Islamabad: 20% construction work on new airport completed

[Naveed Yaseen]

More than 20 per cent construction work of ‘airside infrastructure’ of the new Islamabad International Airport which includes pavement works (Runway, Taxiway, Apron etc.) has already been completed as commenced in August last year and this airport will become functional by the end of 2011.

According to a senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Phase-I of the project which includes site preparatory and earth works has already been completed in April last year. According to details, the new Islamabad International Airport is being constructed at Tarnol-Fateh Jang road equipped with all facilities of international standard and would be completed in the stipulated period as set end of 2011.

Regarding work progress, the official said that the ground for construction of Terminal Building and allied facilities was currently being levelled/graded. The entire project is planning to be completed as per schedule, he added.

All the required land measuring 3200 acres has already been acquired by CAA for the new Islamabad International Airport which is located at Pind Ranjha near Fateh Jang, some 20 km from Zero-point Islamabad and 23 km from Saddar, Rawalpindi.It is a self-financing project of the Civil Aviation Authority and more than 54 billion rupees were allocated in CAA’s annual development programme for the construction of this airport.

When asked about the details of the airport’s construction work, he said that the airport is being constructed in two phases involves the construction of taxiways, aprons and other airside infrastructure besides construction of a large car parking for 2,000 vehicles, a covered plaza area for 200 cars, a control tower, maintenance hangar, a 15-gate terminal with ten remote gates, 42 immigration counters, nine baggage claim carousels, 12 X-ray machines, and also office and administration facilities. Two runways of the new airport to be used simultaneously for domestic and international operation.

There will also be a hotel, convention centre, duty-free shops, airside mall, business centre, food court, leisure facilities and banks at the new terminal, he said. New Islamabad International Airport would guarantee the development and prosperity of the area and would be a milestone in the history of Civil Aviation. All latest facilities would be provided for passengers and air companies, adding that modern facilities and new techniques would be used for the construction of Airport Complex, he told APP. He hoped that the new airport would be one of the best airports in Asia and congratulated the designers and workers on the initiation of this huge project.

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