PM Dahal calls for comprehensive review of TIA security arrangements

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called for comprehensive changes in the management and security system of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

During a meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on Wednesday to discuss airport security arrangements and government action plans, Dahal stressed the importance of implementing concrete measures to enhance the airport’s security setup. He expressed the need for a thorough evaluation of the current situation, rectifying past shortcomings, and utilizing past setbacks as learning experiences to propel improvements. Dahal emphasized the necessity of refining strategic thinking, organizational structure, task allocation, and work methods.

“We will soon form a task force comprised of experts and representatives from relevant agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of TIA’s security arrangements,” he added.

Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Purna Bahadur Khadka, underscored the urgency of carefully analyzing the nation’s overall security landscape and challenges and put in place a modern security system.

Likewise, Minister of Finance Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said inter-agency coordination was a must to bolster the effectiveness of security management.

On the occasion, Home Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai made a presentation on security management, the roles and responsibilities of various offices and agencies operating within TIA, and the existing security challenges faced by the airport.

Security arrangement at TIA is under scrutiny after the Department of Revenue Investigation impounded a consignment of gold molded into scooter brake shoes after it had passed through the TIA Customs Office. The central bank on Tuesday assessed the weight of the smuggled gold at 60.716 kg.