KATHMANDU, Dec 10: Nepal has charged 55 former ministers, officials, and the Chinese company China CAMC Engineering Limited with corruption over financial irregularities in the construction of Pokhara International Airport.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority alleged that the parties colluded to inflate project costs by over USD 74 million, making it one of the largest corruption cases in Nepal. Two officials from the Chinese firm are among those named, and the charges were filed at the Special Court in Kathmandu, which handles government-related corruption cases.
The airport, originally bid at USD 169.6 million in 2012, ended up costing more than USD 244 million. Funded by a loan from China Exim Bank, it was intended to boost tourism in Pokhara, a major trekking hub, but has failed to attract international flights since opening in 2023.
Nepal’s judicial system is slow, with cases often taking months or years to resolve. Corruption remains widespread; in September, large youth-led protests against corruption left dozens dead, forcing the government to resign and prompting an interim administration.
General elections are scheduled for March, raising concerns about governance, transparency, and the handling of major public projects in the country. (PTI)
