KATHMANDU: An investigation into potential financial irregularities related to the construction of perimeter lighting at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has been launched by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). This is in response to a complaint that the majority of the installed lights are of low quality.
The lights were previously examined by a CIAA team to evaluate their quality and condition. The perimeter street lights, used for airport security, are said to have a flimsy physical construction, according to the lawsuit.
According to reports, more than Rs 10 million was embezzled through cooperation in a project valued at approximately Rs 20 million. A source added, "The work is small, but half the amount has been spent while the other half was embezzled through collusion."
Furthermore, it was observed that not even lights worth Rs 10 million were put, despite the enormous expenditure, raising serious questions about the project's integrity.
Poles and lights that were placed have already been taken down. "Those poles have been taken out," affirmed a source in the airport administration.
Despite the earlier problems, there are still attempts being made to improve airport lighting, as seen by the continuation of another light installation project in the Koteshwor region.
In order to gather information on the light installations and poles, the CIAA visited TIA in early September after obtaining all pertinent documentation from the airport management.
Jagannath Niraula, General Manager of TIA, said that the CIAA had asked for information about the light installation. He said, "The CIAA routinely asks for information on various matters, and we have provided it."
Niraula clarified that he was not aware of any CIAA investigations that had taken place at the airport, stating, "I have no information about whether CIAA officials came and conducted inspections or investigations."
Mahavir Shri International completed the installation work. The project was started in response to a security incident where a nude man entered the airport.
Reports reveal that although lighting was placed in some locations, billing was submitted for installations in regions where no work was done at all. This raises the possibility of collaboration between airport employees.
The Nepalese Army studied the situation after the security incident in 2078 BS, and as a result, perimeter light installation was added to the airport's yearly work schedule.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) paid Rs 80 million for the installation of an ATC tower and Rs 42.6 million for weather information systems at several airports. The CIAA is also looking into other financial concerns.
The CIAA is also looking into expenditures of Rs 140 million for X-ray machines at several airports and Rs 600 million on equipment for Gautam Buddha International Airport.
The ongoing investigation of financial procedures in Nepal's aviation industry is reflected in these probes, which raises questions regarding accountability and transparency in infrastructure projects.
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