Operators unhappy with Bartsam airport
30 May 2008
The construction of a domestic airport in Bartsam, Trashigang, has been given priority by the government much to the dissatisfaction of tour operators. Of the five indentified airports – Bathpalathang and Gyeltsha in Bumthang, Yongphula and Barstam in Trashigang and Toorsa in Phuentsholin – Bartsam was given priority. The Bartsampas had requested for the airport during the 86th session of the National Assembly.
Of the five plans, four were found feasible in three areas: technical feasibility, operational evaluation and basic economic evaluation. However, detailed meteorological studies remain to be done at most sites. The masterplan for all the five airports has been submitted to the government for endorsement.
Tour operators are of the opinion that an airport at Bartsam is not commercially and economically viable. Today, most tourists do not go to the east because of its relative lack of access and infrastructure. “Bumthang is more feasible than other places,” said one tour operator.
“The government has just conducted the technical and operational viability and not the market viability,” said another tour operator.
The General Secretary of ABTO, Sonam Dorji said it was confusing why the government was building the airport in Bartsham when there was first the need for a comprehensive proposal with clear-cut strategies.
Building roads and other infrastructure would be expensive and the construction was expected to have high environmental impact since an entire hilltop had to be cleared off.
Operators feel that the government should upgrade the airstrip in Yongphula or rather invest in productive tourism activities in the east. Sonam Tobgay of Lotus Adventures believes that opening up the east in a big way with the airport would be “financial suicide.”
“There is no problem if the airport is constructed with funds from grants and aid but it is not fair if it is on loan which will have to be recovered in the form of taxes. The government could have done something better,” he said.
Civil Aviation’s Sangay Tenzin said that although Bartsam was technically and operationally sound, its construction would prove the most costly.
“More than 1.3 million cubic metres of soil must be excavated and and more than 1.1 million cubic metres filled in order to build the runway strip long and wide enough,” he said. “The site is also located far from existing road head and infrastructure.”
According to the masterplan report, the most feasible sites were Bathpalathang and Phuentsholing. The approximate cost of each of the airports are USD 10 million for Gyeltsha, USD 5.5 million for Bathpalathang, USD 25 million for Bartsam, USD 21 million for Yongphula and USD 8.5 million for Phuentsholing.
ADB consultants have estimated the cost of construction and other infrastructure at USD 47 million.
The finance secretary said that nothing is concrete on the financial support in the form of loan from the ADB. However, MoIC minister, Lyonpo Nanda Lal Rai, said that the ADB has extended support.
The officiating MoIC secretary, Phala Dorji, said that they can only advise the government on the technical viability.
Although he supports the plan for the Bartsam airport, he feels that there should be an airstrip in between Paro and Bartsam for safety and emergency landings. “Bumthang is cheaper and it would be much easier to repay the loan,” he said.
By Sonam Pelden
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Our tour operators are saying the east is not marketable because of lack of access and infrastructure. From my point of view, airport by itself is an infrastructure that is providing access. Once the plan for the airport is finalized, don’t you think other infrastructure like hotels will spring. Development is a process that needs a catalyst. And with the airport as a catalyst, places in and around Trashigang is bound to develop for better.
Conclusion: This is a very appreciative step towards balanced regional development.
Next on the line should be something similar in the southern belt.
Kelzang is right for balanced regional development, airport in the east is a must. An airport at Bartsham or Yongphula won’t make difference to the people of east and we would welcome either of that. However, given the weather condition of the Yongphula, Bartsham is the perfect location.
Hope our planers and experts will look to this as an opportunity to uplift the plight of poor rather than yielding to those tours operators whose motives is always to pitch more profit for themselves. Everyone should get the pie of what we have.
Indian Govt. would give a grant for Bartsham airport. It is a very strategic location.
That is the main reason why it is given the go ahead.
Well, it is very much relevant to have one air port in the east. It has good justification to construct air port there for it will help in improving the living standard and infrastructure and ensure balanced development.
At the same time we also need to think about the safety of our valued passengers and the aircraft itself. It is because of the air port developemnt that balanced development is achieved. So we also need to be concerned about it own safety. I do not know how other readers fell. But I feel it to be genuine.
Therefore what about having airport first at Bumthang and then to Bartsham. This is all for the safety reasons of the aircraft and passengers and it is cost effective as well.
Rabtu_Khenpa, you summed up the reason in a perfect phrase.
Bartsham is the best palce place where the Airport can be suited. Its cannot be always west we should also remmember that there is east on the other side and viceversa. So its nothing wrong with Barstham if the airport is suited,what i believe is everythings are available in east not only in west.
Tours Oprators – Dont be upset thinking that it would hamper your business,in east nothing is wrong. Bhutan a small country people are same & the things are allaround are same. Its will be the same where ever it may. So you souldnot go for your benefit only it should be something which is good for all.
No one here is any position to say that an airport in Bartsam has is going to be less safe than an airport in Bumthang so lets cut the crap. Eastern Bhutan has been ignored for way to long when it comes to spending and infrastructure and this is a a great way to make up for all the years of neglect. Looks like all the naysayers in this case are from western Bhutan who don’t care whether eastern Bhutan is falling backwards.
An airport in east would would also mean better bargain for the tourists. Most tourists are made to visit till Bumthang and continue back the long arduous journey to Paro. The extra couple of days of return journey is loss to them at present and is not very encouraging factor for the potential tourists. East has lot to offer too.