Fuel Depot at north of Tribhuvan International Airport, is set to be relocated

Kathmandu. The fuel depot near the Nepal Army’s golf course building, located to the north of Tribhuvan International Airport, is set to be relocated according to the airport’s master plan. Around 50 ropani of land has been allocated for the new depot. Since the designated area has low-lying land, the depot can be built by filling the ground, said Shrestha, an official involved in the project. The master plan includes a proposal to construct the new fuel depot with a fuel hydrant system.

The airport’s authority has sent a letter to Nepal Oil Corporation, urging them to relocate the depot to the new site, which meets international airport standards. Construction of international aircraft parking facilities is already underway in the north-western area of the airport. Given the high demand for aviation fuel in that zone, it has been recommended that the Corporation establish its depot there.

“Although a deadline for depot construction was set last October, no tender has been called by the Corporation as of now,” Shrestha remarked.

Study Committee Formed, but No Action Taken

Last year, on Bhadra 17, the Corporation formed a study committee to investigate the relocation of the aviation fuel depot. The move came after Clickmandu published a report criticizing the delay in relocating the depot. Following the report, the Corporation’s board, under its engineering project and IT department, approved the formation of the committee as part of its policies and programs for the previous fiscal year.

The committee was tasked with working alongside the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation to identify a suitable site for the new depot based on the Civil Aviation Authority’s master plan. The committee was given two months to complete the study and submit a report detailing the suitability of the land and the structural designs for the depot.

However, nearly a year later, the committee’s report has not been made public. Sources indicate that the report was prepared, but before the then-head of the Corporation could sign it, it was leaked to certain interest groups, causing significant uproar within the Corporation.

The study committee, headed by engineer Suraj Sah, consisted of five members. Despite the time frame given, no tangible progress has been made on the depot relocation project.