KARNALI, Feb 7: Karnali provincial government has begun preparations to ensure smooth internal air transport to connect all the districts within the province. 

The provincial government is working with air service operators including the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to operate domestic flight services from the Surkhet Airport in the provincial capital Birendranagar to the airports in the mountain districts. 

Accordingly, the NAC is collaborating with the provincial government to expand domestic air services from Surkhet.

In this regard, Chief Minister Rajkumar Sharma, Coordinator of NAC in Surkhet Mahesh Kumar Marita, Manager of Engineering Department of NAC Devendra Pun and Chief of Surkhet Civil Aviation Office Rajan Dhungel made an onsite-inspection of the airport on Tuesday. 

On the occasion, Chief Minister Sharma said that there will be support from the government for physical infrastructure and other required things to operate domestic flights. The provincial government is adding internal flights to make the life of Karnali residents easier, he said while stating that the provincial government has kept the improvement of Surkhet airport as a priority.

Meanwhile, NAC Coordinator Marita said that the service will be operated as soon as possible in view of the request made by the provincial government.