December 20: Amid complaints that the shops operating on the airport premises are charging exorbitant prices for food items, a study committee has recommended to regulate them and set reasonable prices.

The committee formed by the government has recommended that the shops operating inside the airport should be instructed by the concerned office to sell goods at a maximum retail price (MRP) specified by the government.

Sometime ago, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, had made a surprise visit to the Tribhuvan International Airport for inspection, when passengers complained they had to pay higher prices for the consumables kept at the shops in the airport. To solve this problem, the government had formed a study committee under the coordination of Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Jagannath Niraula. The committee submitted the report to CAAN’s Director General Pradip Adhikari on Tuesday.

The committee has also mentioned that it is not possible to force businessmen to sell and distribute food and other items according to the market price in Nepal's international and domestic airports. Currently, shops operating at the airport are charging more than the MRP for bottled water, biscuits, noodles and other food and drinks.

The committee has recommended that the concerned office give instructions to all individuals, firms and companies to sell these items at a specified MRP. Individuals, firms and companies who have entered into contracts with the authority and subordinate offices for operating shops at the airport have been asked to sell goods and services in a way that does not exceed the maximum profit limit.

They have also been instructed to sell the items by displaying the pricelist.

The committee has also suggested necessary amendments to the Airport Service Fee Regulations 2078.