Multi-storey parking at TIA on cards

KATHMANDU, MAY 14: 

The Finance Ministry has finally approved the report of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to construct a multi-storey car parking space at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA). 

“The Finance Ministry has finally approved CAAN’s report regarding the construction of a multi-storey car parking space at the airport, and the report now awaits approval from the cabinet,” said general manager at TIA Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. 

The report had been waiting for an approval from the Finance Ministry since the past 1.5 years. CAAN had prepared a report regarding the construction of a car parking space along with the construction of an office complex within the TIA premises. 

The authority had called the tender about 1.5 years back and had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a private firm for the development of a multi-storey car parking space and airport office complex on the right hand side of the golden gate within the TIA premises. The authority had signed a MoU with a private sector company to provide land on lease for 30 years for Rs 10 million per month. 

“CAAN can generate a total income of Rs 30 million per month,” he said adding that TIA had decided to lease the land at Rs 10 million per month and will also receive 10 per cent of the total transaction from the complex.

New taxi service at TIA

Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is also planning to sign an agreement with the Airport Air Passenger Transportation Service Management on Monday. “We will possibly sign the contract tomorrow and within three months Tribuwan International Airport (TIA) will have 150 new pre–paid taxis in operation,” said general manager at TIA Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. “We are also preparing to negotiate with the selected company which will finally replace the 170 old taxis at the airport,” he said, adding that they are going to charge Rs 4,000 for each taxi for three months from the pre-paid taxi parking space for the permanent taxis. It has also calculated a total revenue collection of Rs 3.6 million annually from the taxi parking space. TIA is also set to start about 150 new pre-paid taxis at the airport from August. According to the agreement, the company has to install 150 taxis in the first phase while it has to install the additional taxis to make a total of 300 new taxis within six months. The TIA management has allocated a parking space in around two hectares of land at the peripheral area of the airport which has remained unused for years. The land outside the golden gate of TIA and within the ring road will be used for the parking of the 300 taxis.