The long-awaited construction of the second terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is set to commence soon, following the proper awarding of the contract.
Initially started in 2020, the project, which costs approximately Rs. 145 billion and is funded by a soft loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), faced delays due to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.in 2022. Construction was halted until the country completed its external debt restructuring, Finance Ministry sources said.
The new terminal is designed with an Eco-Airport concept that incorporates cutting-edge Japanese technology.
Features of this environmentally friendly design include rainwater harvesting for landscaping, recycling of treated wastewater for toilet flushing, solar energy collection, LED lighting, and energy-efficient building materials.
Recently, enhancements such as a new apron and taxiways were added as part of the BIA Expansion initiative. JICA is investing a total of JPY 74,397 million (approximately Rs. 113 billion) under Special Terms for Economic Partnership.
Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (AASL) has called a tender for Phase 2 of the BIA Development Project.
The goal is to complete the project funded by JICA’s ODA loan by the end of 2027 to meet the rising demand for air travel in the country.
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on debt restructuring by Sri Lanka’s government and the Official Creditors’ Committee at the end of July 2024, JICA resumed disbursements for all its funded projects, including the BIA development. a senior official of the ministry said.
Sealed bids are now being invited by the Chairman of the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAPC) for the construction of the BIA Development Project Phase II Stage 2 – Package ‘A1’.
This package includes the completion of the Main Terminal Building, Piers No. 2 and 3, and associated works such as elevated roadways and essential utilities like power, sewage, and water supply systems. The expected construction timeline is 30 months.
Originally, the contract for Package ‘A’ was awarded in December 2020, with an expected completion date of December 2023.
However, the project was terminated in December 2022 due to the challenging economic climate, with only 6% of the work completed at that time. The new Package ‘A1’ aims to finalize the remaining work and utilize materials procured by the previous contractor.
Source: Sunday Times