March 11: The construction works of the domestic airport at Bathpalathang in Bumthang will start next month. The Civil Aviation and survey officials are currently in Bumthang for a weeklong cadastral survey visit.

According to the survey, the runway strip has to be built near the riverside of Chamkhar Chu. As the river is going to pose risks to the airport during the monsoon it has to be diverted to another direction.

“The meteorological equipment is going to be installed. So hopefully by September 2010, we should be completing this domestic airport,” said the Director General of Civil Aviation, Phala Dorji.

Once the airport becomes operational, it will benefit the central regions in many ways.

“It definitely will benefit not only the community at large but even for the tourism sector. And besides we are also looking at other benefits such as during disaster in case it should occur for any emergency purposes, so there are host of benefits,” he said.

The construction works will be carried out in phases. In the first phase, runway strip and the terminal point will be constructed. In the second and last phase, river diversion works, river protection walls and the hangar will be built.

The officials will get the accurate figure of the total area of the airport once the survey is complete.

Meanwhile, the construction works of the Yonphula airport in Trashigang is also going to be complete within two months. The construction works of both the airports are funded by the government.