Landmark Worldwide Company Limited of South Korea has bagged the contract of conducting detailed feasibility study (DFS) of Nepal´s proposed second international airport at Nijgadh in Bara.
Murari Bahadur Karki, joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), and Lee Sang Ho, president and CEO of Landmark, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations on Sunday.
As per the agreement, the Korean company has to submit the DFS report within 10 months starting April 1, 2010. Landmark will bear the study cost estimated at $3,551,023.
“The agreement will open a new avenue for infrastructure development in Nepal,” Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari said, after the signing ceremony. He assured the representatives of Landmark that the government would provide necessary support and cooperation to conduct detailed feasibility study.
Saying that Nepal´s tourism industry holds a great potential, Lee said the initiative to develop second international airport was a historic event for Nepal.
Nagendra Prasad Ghimire, secretary at MoTCA, said the initiation of the project was a positive sign for Nepal´s economic development.
Landmark had shown interest to conduct detailed feasibility study of the project after the government decided to develop the airport under build own operate and transfer (BOOT) model.
Other companies like Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korea Power Engineering Company Inc., Yooshin Corporation, Archiplan Inc, Kumho Industrial Co, Seoultel Engineering Company, Hanil Mech. Elec. Consultants and Airport De Paris had also submitted their expressions of interest.
The government has felt the necessity of developing second international airport in the country, realizing increasing congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport.
(Source:Republica)
