HSIA's Third Terminal to be completed at scheduled time: Ali
Dhaka: Construction work of the much-awaited Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport would be completed at the scheduled time, June 2023, as the work has not been hampered due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, made the statement after visiting the construction site at the airport in the capital today.
“The construction work of the terminal did not stop for a single day during the lockdown following the coronavirus pandemic. However, health guidelines have been strictly followed while carrying out the construction work,” he said.
As of yet, 6.4 per cent of the construction work has been completed, added the State Minister. "Out of 3000, 464 piling works have already been carried out and the progress is satisfactory."
In response to queries, the State Minister further mentioned that the approved design of the Third Terminal will not be altered and there is no chance of increasing the estimated construction cost.
Rather, he said, BDT 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.
M Mohibul Haque, Senior Secretary, Civil Aviation and Tourism and Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman, Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh were also present on the occasion.
On December 28, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the landmark project aimed at increasing the airport's passenger and cargo handling capacity as well as security.
The new international passenger terminal building is set to have a floor area of roughly 22.5 lac sqft whereas the existing two terminals of the airport have a space of about 10 lac sqft 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 BDT 21,300 crore of which the government is providing BDT 5,000 crore and the rest to be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Mitsubishi and Fujita of Japan and Samsung of Korea are to construct the Third Terminal under a consortium, said a spokesman for CAAB.
