Khairul Alam: Bangladesh’s connectivity in the skies is set to strengthen with the construction of the third terminal (Terminal-3) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
This mega project is being undertaken in collaboration with Singapore’s Changi Airport and is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October 7th, a momentous occasion.
This announcement was made by the Chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Air Vice Marshal Mofidur Rahman, with the total construction cost of the project estimated at Tk 24,000 crores.
Officials have noted that the project scope has expanded, leading to increased expenses. Initially, plans were set for the construction of 12 boarding bridges, but this number has now grown to 26. Furthermore, other aspects of the project have also seen expansion.
Currently, Shahjalal Airport houses two terminals, each spanning one lakh square meters. The new Terminal-3, however, will dwarf its predecessors with an expansive area of two lakh thirty thousand square meters.
The construction work for this project commenced in December 2019, and according to the approval timeline, it is expected to conclude by April 2024.
Mitsubishi and Fujita of Japan, along with Samsung of South Korea, are jointly constructing the Terminal-3 through the Dhaka Consortium.
This new terminal will feature a total of 37 apron parking spaces, enabling simultaneous parking for 37 aircraft, a significant increase from the four taxiways available at Shahjalal Airport.
To expedite aircraft turnaround times, two new high-speed taxiways are being introduced. Additional facilities include two buildings for cargo import and export, as well as a three-story building for car parking.
As per Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Terminal-3 will feature 26 boarding bridges, with 12 initially slated for the first phase.
There will be 36 parking zones for aircraft, 15 self-service check-in counters, and a total of 115 check-in counters, including 10 automated passport control counters and 66 departure immigration counters.
In the future, Terminal-3 will also host five automated check-in counters, totaling 59 passport and 19 arrival immigration counters. Beyond this, the terminal will house 16 automated baggage belts for passenger convenience.
Additionally, a new expressway loop has been constructed in the adjacent Kaula area, directly connecting Terminal-3 with the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Once all construction work is completed, this elevated expressway will seamlessly integrate with the metro rail system, offering passengers arriving from abroad easy access to various destinations within Bangladesh.