Nepal-India talks on air routes next week

Kathmandu, June 7: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) on Thursday said that an Indian delegation will arrive here on June 14 to discuss cross-border airspace issues that have been pending for the last five years. The team comprising officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will be led by Anil Kumar Dutta, member of Air Navigation Services and board member of the AAI, reports the Kathmandu Post. The two sides will discuss three key cross-border routes that Nepal has sought from India: Janakpur in the eastern, Nepalgunj in the mid-western and Mahendranagar in the far western regions, CAAN said. After a safety assessment has been completed by the technical teams of both sides, a report has to be published in an aeronautical information publication (AIP) before the new air routes can become operational. (IANS)