Kathmandu, Aug. 22 -- After nearly four decades, Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, one of the most challenging airports to operate in the world, is set to get a new air traffic control tower equipped with modern systems and technology.

Nepal's Cabinet this week approved a grant of around Rs2.73 billion from the government of Japan to construct a modern air traffic control (ATC) tower at the TIA. It is the fourth major grant from Japan aimed at enhancing the safety of Nepal's civil aviation sector.

The proposed nine-storey tower will be built on the eastern side of the runway, near the airport's rescue and firefighting division, according to sources familiar with the project.

On July 28, Dr Akihiko Tanaka toured the Japan Int...