[🇧🇩] Sea Ports/Air Ports/River Ports/Bridges/Mega Projects

[Saif]

Cox's Bazar Airport almost ready to handle large aircraft

Development works on Cox's Bazar Airport are nearing completion, with the authorities expecting to inaugurate the upgraded airport in late October. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) authorities have reported almost 99 per cent progress on the physical works of the airport's passeng

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Cox's Bazar Airport almost ready to handle large aircraft

Photo courtesy: Mamunur Rashid Kazi via Wikipedia

Development works on Cox's Bazar Airport are nearing completion, with the authorities expecting to inaugurate the upgraded airport in late October.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) authorities have reported almost 99 per cent progress on the physical works of the airport's passenger terminal building while its runway expansion project also advanced 91.65 per cent as of August-end.

"If everything goes accordingly, the airport is expected to handle international flights and larger aircraft more efficiently by the end of next month (October)," said an official.

The international passenger terminal building, being developed at a cost of approximately Tk 3.62 billion, has already seen most of its major construction and installation works completed.

Facilities of the 17,956-square-metre terminal include an international departure lounge with a capacity of 450 passengers, boarding bridge, lifts, escalators, conveyor belts, check-in counters and immigration facilities, according to the CAAB.

The project also includes an arrival lounge, security and communication systems, internal roads, a pump house, deep tube-well, and other supporting infrastructure. Works on 35 VIP and 90 general car parking spaces were also under way.

The terminal project is scheduled for completion by December 2026, with cumulative physical and financial progress reaching 98.97 per cent and 93.78 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, the runway expansion project is being implemented to make the airport suitable for wide-body aircraft operations. Under the project, the existing 9,000-foot runway has been extended to 10,700 feet by reclaiming 43 hectares of land from the sea, sources said.

The runway expansion has already achieved 91.65 per cent physical and 83.77 per cent financial progress, they mentioned.

Once completed, the extended runway is expected to facilitate safer take-off and landing of wide-body aircraft, including Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 747-400 aircraft. It will also support increased international and domestic passenger and cargo operations.

A separate project is also under way to prepare the design and feasibility studies for transforming Cox's Bazar Airport into a full-fledged international airport and an aviation hub.

The proposed second-phase development envisages international-standard passenger terminal facilities, a control tower, administrative building, car parking, approach roads, STP, jetty, cargo complex, convention and business centre, general aviation facilities, aviation training centre, airport quarantine hospital, parallel taxiway, apron and refuelling system on 682 acres of coastal land.

The overall development is aimed at improving direct air connectivity between Cox's Bazar and Dhaka as well as other major domestic and international destinations, supporting the growth of tourism and increasing passenger and cargo movement through the airport.

At present, 28 to 30 domestic passenger aircrafts take off from or land at the Cox's Bazar airport daily.

Contacted, CAAB Member (Air Traffic Management) Air Commodore Noor-e-Alam said the facility will be fully ready to operate international flights.

"We have informed all the stakeholders and airlines about the Cox's," he mentioned.

Earlier in October last year, the airport's international status was annulled just 11 days after its official announcement, as there was insufficient airline interest in operating international flights and the facility lacked commercial viability at the time.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka airport’s 3rd terminal cost rises to Tk 222.13b

The cost of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal project has increased further, with Tk 6.67 billion required for 30 months of maintenance between January 2025 and June 2027, even though the terminal has yet to begin full-scale operation. State Minister for Planning Zo

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Dhaka airport’s 3rd terminal cost rises to Tk 222.13b

The cost of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal project has increased further, with Tk 6.67 billion required for 30 months of maintenance between January 2025 and June 2027, even though the terminal has yet to begin full-scale operation.

State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki said the additional expenditure also includes costs for settling contractual disputes, completing outstanding works and installing facilities that were not included in the original project scope.

Briefing reporters after Tuesday’s ECNEC meeting, Saki said the government has set December 16 as the target for opening the third terminal, but some essential works will continue until June 2027.

The meeting approved an enhancement of Tk 8.47 billion; in total costs Tk 222.13 billion in the third price amendment, whereas it was Tk 213.65 billion in the second price amendment.

“The terminal will be inaugurated partially on December 16, but some works that are essential for operation will be completed by June 2027,” Saki said.

Saki said the latest revision includes Tk 6.67 billion for 30 months of maintenance from January 2025 to June 2027 following the expiry of the defects notification period.

He said another Tk 2.94 billion has been added following recommendations of an amicable settlement committee to resolve disputes arising from variations in the construction contract.

The revised project also covers several outstanding components, including VIP and VVIP facilities, performance testing of the cargo handling system, the baggage handling system, water and sewage treatment plants, the explosive detection system (EDS) and UPS supply for EDS.

Additional expenditure has also been incurred for equipment maintenance and consultancy supervision, he said.

The state minister said 228 consultants, including 16 foreign and 212 local consultants, are involved in the relevant works, with the additional consultancy cost estimated at Tk 196.7 million.

The project’s tax component has meanwhile been reduced by Tk 1.34 billion, he said.

Saki said some facilities essential for operating a modern international airport were absent from the original project scope.

“For example, high-speed internet connectivity across the terminal area is essential. Immigration facilities also require equipment and systems, not simply personnel standing at counters,” he said.

He said such omissions could occur even after feasibility studies, as the detailed design stage can reveal requirements that were not adequately reflected in the initial project documents.

The state minister said the government was therefore working to reform the feasibility study process so that project estimates and designs are more accurate from the beginning.

He said the government has already initiated steps to make agencies conducting feasibility studies more accountable and prevent feasibility studies from becoming a routine exercise carried out merely to fulfil procedural requirements.

Saki said proposals for these reforms had been prepared based on the experience of the Planning Ministry and line ministries and would be placed before the National Economic Council for approval.

He also said the government had issued clear instructions that project deadlines should not be extended without valid reasons.

“Whenever a project is extended without a logical reason, those responsible will be brought under accountability,” he said.

The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division has already submitted investigation reports on eight projects, while reports on another three to four projects are expected shortly, he said.

The reports are being sent to the Prime Minister and concerned ministries for necessary action, he added.

Regarding major cost increases in other large projects, including MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 North, Saki said changes between preliminary feasibility studies and detailed designs can significantly affect project costs.

He cited underground construction as one factor behind the increased cost of metro rail projects, saying the geological characteristics of Dhaka have required some stations to be constructed at substantially greater depths than initially envisaged.

For the third terminal, however, he stressed that the latest increase had been broken down into specific components, including maintenance costs, additional facilities and settlement of contractual disputes.​