Surkhet Airport Expansion Remains Stalled Amid Shifting Political Priorities

Surkhet. The expansion of Surkhet Airport has been a major election agenda for candidates running for provincial and federal assembly seats since 2074 BS. The airport, located within Birendranagar, the capital of Karnali Province, is too narrow to accommodate larger aircraft, leading to persistent calls for its expansion and upgrading to make air travel accessible to the general public.

However, the airport expansion has not materialized yet. Instead, political parties are using the issue of expansion as a tool for political gain, says an intellectual from Birendranagar on condition of anonymity.