The foundation work of the new passenger
terminal being constructed at Velana International Airport (VIA) has been
completed.
In a tweet published on Tuesday, 17th
December 2019, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) that operates the
country's main airport said the first steps towards the above-ground work have
commenced, and that 15% of the pile cap has been completed. While column
reinforcement has already been completed, 2000 square meters of ground slab has
been laid.
The new passenger terminal is developed at
the south of the current international terminal over an area of 78,000 square
metres.
The project to develop the new passenger
terminal - the largest segment of the airport development project - was
contracted to Saudi Arabia's Bin Laden Group three years ago on 21st
May 2016. Although the project was to be completed within two years, the
company faced some delays in implementing the project. The project was delayed
further when the government changed in 2018 that lead the work to be ceased
temporarily however, the project was once again assigned to Bin Laden Group on 27th
June 2019.
The government is hopeful of completing the
project by May 2022.
The new terminal can cater to around seven
million people in a year. Bin-Laden Group accepted the project for US$ 350 million.
The project is funded by a consortium between the Saudi, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait
fund.
A new runway has been developed at the
airport in addition to the construction of a new passenger terminal. While a
fuel farm has also been established, a cargo terminal is currently being
constructed by China's BUCG company under the mega airport development project.
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