DHAKA, Aug 9, 2020 (BSS) – State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism
Mahbub Ali today said construction of the much-awaited Third Terminal of
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) would be completed within the
scheduled time June 2023 as the work was not hampered due to COVID-19
pandemic.
“The construction work has not remained halted for a single day during the
closure for coronavirus pandemic. Health codes have been strictly followed
during the construction work of the terminal,” he told newsmen after visiting
the construction site in the capital today.
The state minister said so far 6.4 percent of the construction work has
been completed. Out of 3000, 464 piling works have already been carried out
and the progress is satisfactory.
Replying to a query, Ali said the approved design of the third terminal
won’t be altered and there is no chance of increasing the estimated
construction cost.
Rather, he said Taka 750 crore would remain as surplus from the project and
his ministry is planning to build more boarding bridges and an extra VIP
space with the additional money.
Senior secretary of civil aviation and tourism ministry M Mohibul Haque and
Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) chairman Vice Marshal M Mofidur
Rahman were also present.
On December 28 last, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the landmark
‘Third Terminal of HSIA)’ project aimed at increasing carrying passenger and
cargo capacity manifolds.
The new international passenger terminal building is set to have a floor
area of roughly 22.5 lakh square feet whereas the existing two terminals of
the HSIA have space of around 10 lakh square feet together.
The HSIA’s expansion is set to increase the airport’s annual passenger
handling capacity from the current eight million to approximately 20 million,
and the cargo capacity from 200,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes.
The new terminal will be built at a cost of Taka 21,300 crore of which the
government is providing Taka 5,000 crore and the rest to be funded by Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Mitsubishi and Fujita of Japan and Samsung of Korea were awarded to
construct the 3rd terminal under a consortium, Civil Aviation Authority,
Bangladesh (CAAB) official sources said.