June 5: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma on Saturday said the government was clear on constructing the Nijgadh International Airport in Bara.    
Construction of the project has come to a halt following a verdict of the Supreme Court. The apex court has ordered the government not to continue with the project. However, the finance minister insists that the project will move ahead.

"Nijgadh airport should and will be constructed. This is my commitment. The incumbent government has accorded high priority to the project," he said while addressing the 46th annual general meeting of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Birgunj.    
The project is needed not only as an alternative to the Tribhuvan International Airport, but for the entire economic development of the Madhes and the whole country, he said.    
"There is an urgent need to construct the project and the Kathmandu-Tarai fast-track the Madhes Province with Kathmandu," he said.

On a different note, the minister said that the process of resuming operation of the Birgunj Sugar Industry has been initiated.

The budget has programmes to resume operation of the industry. Such programmes have been made on the basis of a study carried out for six to seven months, added the minister.    
The minister further said that the voices of industrialists and entrepreneurs of Birgunj have been addressed through the government's policies and programmes for the next fiscal year (FY 2022/23).    
Similarly, stating that Birgunj is a lifeline for trade, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini said, "There have been efforts for self-reliance and industrializing industry and trade through the budget."  -- RSS