Domestic Airports Upgrading Components, STIDP [Loan No 1451 NEP (SF)]

air11 air12 air13

Client: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)
Funding Agency: Asian Development Bank
Period: December, 1998 to August 2002
Consulting Association: GEOCE Consultants (P) Ltd, Mr. & Mrs. ML Kayastha & Associates JV
Approx. Value of Services: Total NRs 13.6 million, GEOCE’s part- NRs 11.56 million
Professional Staff Input: National (79) person months

Salient Details

CAAN undertook upgrading of six domestic airports-Biratnagar, Lukla, Pokhara, Bharatpur, Jomsom and Jumla airports under ADB funded Second Tourism Infrastructure Development Project (STIDP). The Project cost was about US$ 8.6 million.

The consulting services were for design, preparation of bid documents of airport upgrading works at Biratnagar, Lukla, Jomsom and Jumla airports and construction supervision of upgrading works at Biratnagar Airport and advisory support to CAAN for implementation of airport upgrading works at Lukla, Jomsom and Jumla airports.

The design of upgrading works at Biratnagar airport included rehabilitation and strengthening of runway, taxiway and apron pavements (total about 66,000 sqm) with asphalt concrete, improvement of runway strips, drainage and water supply and improvement of Basta Nala along airport to alleviate flooding. Similarly, design of upgrading works at other three airports (Lukla, Jomsom and Jumla) included master planning; design of geometry improvement, surface improvement to bituminous standard with frost – resistant asphalt concrete pavement for runways, taxiway and apron (total about 60,000 sqm), drainage improvement, river training (of Kaligandaki River at Jomsom airport) and new terminal buildings and control towers at Lukla and Jomsom airports. The consultant provided full construction supervision of upgrading works at Biratnagar airport and advisory support to CAAN in the implementation of above upgrading works at Lukla, Jomsom and Jumla airports. GEOCE also carried out the preparation of Project Completion Reports for all six airports including Pokhara and Bharatpur airports. The design and construction of frost – resistant asphalt concrete pavement was carried out for the first time in Nepal through this project.

Community Groundwater Irrigation Sector Project

Client: Department of Irrigation
Funding Agency: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Period: August 1998 to April 2006
Consulting Association: Canadian Centre for International Studies and Co-operation (CECI), GEOCE Consultants (P) Ltd
Approx. Value of Services: CECI- US$ 2.4 million, GEOCE- NRs 10 million
Professional Staff Input: International National (200) and National (164) person months

Design and implementation of groundwater irrigation project to provide irrigation facilities to 60,000 ha of land and benefit 657,000 people of 110,000 households of which 50 percent live below the poverty line in 12 districts in the Terai of Central and Eastern Development Regions.

Salient Details:

The main objective of the project was to increase agricultural productivity on sustainable basis; to improve incomes of small farmers through participatory, demand driven and integrated group shallow tube well development, and increase capacity development of water users groups. The project covers 12 districts in the Tarai of Central and Eastern Development Regions. It will provide irrigation facilities to an additional 60,000 ha of land and benefit 657,000 people of 110,000 households of which 50 % live below the poverty line. The project is expected to have a direct and positive impact on crop production and farm incomes and increase rural employment opportunities and poverty alleviation.  Project Cost was US $ 42.8 million.

The scope of services consisted of preparation and implementation of Management Plan for institutional strengthening and capacity building of different units of the project viz. Project Management Unit, Environmental Unit, Groundwater Field Offices, Technology Transfer Centre and Training Unit, Shallow Tubewell Development Section.

The details of services comprised of

  • Farmer needs assessment among STW farmers in the Project area and assist in the planning of the irrigated agriculture research programs to be undertaken by Nepal Agriculture Research Centre;
  • Design and planning of activities to demonstrate improved irrigated agricultural techniques and crops to farmers and to motivate and training them to adoption of new approaches;
  • Development of an integrated pest management (program, including appropriate training courses for farmers and agricultural workers;
  • Preparation of the training programs including planning and co-ordination of the field training and the overseas tours,
  • Conduct training to Department of Irrigation, Department of Agriculture, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), PFI and NGO Staffs;
  • Planning and design of small technology transfer training to STW drillers and pump maintenance and repair mechanics;
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the various trainings;