The High Cost of Lumbini’s Idle Airports

Infrastructure reports from Lumbini Province indicate a growing disparity between the number of constructed airports and the frequency of actual flight operations. Despite significant financial investment from the state and local governments, many regional airports remain either closed, underutilized, or incomplete. Data shows that of the six airports located across the province’s 12 districts, only Nepalgunj and Gautam Buddha International Airport maintain consistent schedules, while others suffer from a lack of passengers and aircraft.

In Rolpa, the Badachaur Airport has been non-operational for over three decades after being damaged during the conflict era. Though local representatives continue to lobby for its reopening to facilitate tourism and foreign employment travel, the facility currently serves as a grazing field and playground. Similarly, the Arghabhagwati Airport in Arghakhanchi remains unfinished after an expenditure of 210 million rupees, with an estimated 350 million rupees still required to complete the project.

Existing facilities in Dang and Gulmi face ongoing operational hurdles. Tarigaon Airport in Dang, the oldest in the province, currently sees only four flights per week by Nepal Airlines due to inconsistent passenger demand. In Gulmi, Resunga Airport also maintains a limited schedule of four weekly flights. Aviation officials report that while infrastructure like runways can be built, the national shortage of small aircraft for rural routes prevents these airports from achieving their intended utility.

Infrastructure expert Ashish Gajurel has characterized the expansion of these regional airports as a potential misuse of public funds, noting that many projects are initiated for political visibility rather than economic necessity. Many of these locations are now connected by road networks, making air travel a less competitive option for locals. Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), acknowledged that political pressure often leads to the inclusion of unnecessary airport projects in national budgets, despite the lack of available aircraft to serve them.

The focus on aviation infrastructure has also drawn criticism from social advocates who point to urgent, unmet needs in basic services. Statistics from the 2021 census reveal that districts like Rolpa, Pyuthan, and Gulmi still struggle with high illiteracy rates, food insecurity, and a lack of basic sanitation and clean drinking water. While millions are funneled into idle runways, local hospitals in Arghakhanchi and Rolpa report severe shortages of specialist doctors and medical equipment, forcing residents to travel to Butwal or Kathmandu for essential healthcare.