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| Sunday, 24 August 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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JBIC funds to modernise BIA Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited and Taisei Mitsubishi Joint Venture of Japan signed a contract agreement for the expansion and modernisation of the Passenger Terminal Building at Bandaranaike International Airport, which has a contract price of Rs. 3.1 billion. This is the third construction contract agreement for the airport development project. The project is funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation on concessionary terms with an interest rate of 1.8 per cent per annum and a repayment period of 20 years with a 10-year grace period. The loan amount is Rs. 10 billion construction will take two years. The major components of the Passenger Terminal Building contract package are construction of a new pier with a floor area of 200,000 sq.ft. and connected to the existing terminal building. The pier will accommodate eight gate lounges, three First and Business class passenger lounges, two VIP halls and 10 passenger-boarding bridges. Modern passenger conveniences such as moving sidewalks, gate security systems, flight information display systems and closed circuit television are also included under the contract. The addition 6500 sq.ft. of terminal building space and further 60,000 sq.ft of renovation and conversion of current office areas into passenger transit area are part of this modernisation. These developments will enable Sri Lanka to compete as a regional passenger hub. The competition will see a doubling of the departure immigration positions and a 125 per cent increase in arrival immigration positions, thereby facilitating faster clearance or arriving and departing passengers. The arrival immigration area will be relocated to the newly developed first floor of the passenger terminal building and the passengers will enter the duty free area immediately after clearing immigration. The project will also see the addition of a new arrival baggage belt and facilities for disabled passengers. A Civil and Utility Works contract agreement was also signed with Taisei Mitsubishi for Rs 1.2 billion. This project envisages rehabilitation of 2 Km of the southern section of the parallel taxiway, construction of a new aircraft parking apron with an area of 600,000 sq.ft. to accommodate new generation aircraft, replacing 100,000 sq.ft of the weak sections of the aircraft-parking apron, widening of the exit taxiway to facilitate movement of large aircraft, improving water supply system, installing a new airport sewage disposal system and construction of a solid waste incinerator. A contract agreement for the new cargo building was signed with Maga Engineering (Pte) Limited of Sri Lanka for Rs. 590 million. It is for the construction of a new air cargo processing facility with a floor area of 140,000 sq.ft and an annual handling capacity of 100,000 tons. The fourth contract package for the Air Navigational System is yet to be finalised. It will include the installation of a monopulse secondary surveillance radar system, improvements to aeronautical communication system and installation of a meteorological observation system. Completion of the project in about two years will result in a 47 per cent increase in the passenger movement capacity, 67 per cent increase in the cargo capacity and 47 per cent increase in aircraft parking apron capacity. |
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