The construction work of the third terminal at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is going on in full swing and around 56 per cent work of the terminal has been completed so far.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the first phase of the third terminal in October this year. A feasibility study is going on to construct another runway after the completion of the project.  

He said some work on the second phase of the terminal is being done which may increase the project expenditure slightly. A total of 26 boarding bridges are being constructed although the number of boarding bridges was 12 in the design. A VVIP terminal is also being constructed. As a result, there will be no disruption in the operational works of the terminal.

“We have some delay to get the additional allocation for the project from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The prices of construction materials have increased in the market. So, we have to spend more money on the same project. The new cost and allocation will be fixed in the revised project budget,” he said.    

About the construction of another runway in the third terminal, Mafidur Rahman said, “After launching the third terminal the flight operations will increase. It will be quite impossible to run this big international airport with only one runway. That’s why a feasibility study is going on to make another runway in the airport. But the new runway will not be an independent one rather it will be a dependent runway. It’s a runway that will remain off during the operation of another runway. We have chosen this system as there is not enough space to keep the safety of the two separate operational runways.”

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, currently, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has two terminals with a capacity of 70 lakh passengers per year. After the completion of the third terminal, the passenger capacity of the airport will be around two crores yearly.

In the new terminal, an apron of 542,000 square meters is being constructed where 37 aircraft can be parked. The terminal building will have 230,000 square meters of space with all remarkable, developed and latest technology. Several straight escalators will be set up in the terminal which will give the passengers a feeling of a smooth journey. Straight escalators are widely being used in all developed and latest airports including Singapore and Bangkok.

Besides, the third terminal will be connected to the subway metro rail. A separate metro station will be constructed for the airport. Air passengers can leave the terminal using the metro rail and they will not have to go outside of the airport. People can move with the departure area of the airport through the metro rail from any side of Dhaka.

A baby care lounge will be kept in front of the very washroom of the terminal. A breastfeeding room and a big family bathroom will also be made the terminal lounge. Besides, various sports management including sleeper-rocking cradle will be kept for the children. A Heath inspection facility, first aid room, disease testing centre and an isolation area will also be kept in the terminal.   

Renowned architect Rohani Baharin, who is famous for designing Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 3, has designed the terminal’s internal interior.

According to CAAB, the estimated cost of terminal 3 is Tk 21,399 crore. 

The three-storied third terminal will be one of the most attractive airport terminals in the world.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on January 7, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.