Baitadi, Feb 15: The Patan airport runway has been blacktopped. Though the construction was completed last month, the airport is yet to come into operation. The airport remains closed since the past two decades. It is the second biggest airport after the Geta airport of Kailali in the farwest. The construction was completed 18 months later than the set date. The blacktopped airstrip is 590 meters long and 20 meters wide. Another 70 meters long and 30 meters wide apron has also been black topped. The construction was completed at the total cost of Rs 112.9 million. The terminal building of the airport is yet to be constructed. Hence, it is unlikely that the airport would come into operation any time soon. The airport first came into operation in 1972. However, it remains closed since 1992, after it was closed due to security reasons during the insurgency.