Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel has said the government is preparing to build seven new industrial estates covering at least 1,000 bighas of land. “A proposal has already moved ahead,” he said, addressing the 57th annual general meeting of Siddharthanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Saturday. “One of the estates has been planned in Rupandehi.”

He said a feasibility study is being carried out for industrial zones in Motipur, Rupandehi. “We want the industries operating along the roads to relocate managed industrial estates,” he said.

The government wants to develop larger industrial estates so that industries could be provided all necessary services promptly from a single location, according to Poudel. The Finance Minister also informed the government is preparing to acquire 140 bighas of land to upgrade the proposed Gautam Buddha Regional International Airport in Bhairahawa into a full-scale international airport. “This airport, categorised under the National Pride Project, must be completed in time. The government will continue to monitor its progress,” he said.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has said the upgradation of this domestic airport to a regional international airport will be delayed by at least six months due to disruption in works as a result of shortages of fuel and building materials amid Tarai banda and India’s embargo. The project is due for completion in Dec 2017.

The country’s first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Bhairahawa has yet to come into operation even a year after its inauguration. Industrialists have complained about high rental charges and paid-up capital requirements. “The government is ready to discuss the matter,” said Poudel. He said a new SEZ Act will be introduced soon.