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Airport new runway reclamation to be completed in Feb 2017

Fathmath Shaahunaz
15 December 2016, MVT 17:13
Land reclamation for INIA's new runway began on Monday. MIHAARU PHOTO/MOHAMED SHARUHAAN
Fathmath Shaahunaz
15 December 2016, MVT 17:13

Land reclamation for the development of the Maldives’ main airport’s new runway is expected to reach completion by the end of coming February, announced Maldives Airports Company Ltd (MACL) on Thursday.

Development of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA)’s new runway was awarded to Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) of China. BUCG had appointed United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s dredging firm Gulf Cobla as its subcontractor which commenced land reclamation last July 25.

MACL’s Managing Director Adil Moosa told Mihaaru that land has been reclaimed up to the channel previously used to enter airport island Hulhule’s lagoon through its reef. Stating that the reclaimed land is currently larger than the area of the airport, he said that the current works in progress include fortifying the newly reclaimed region.

Adding that two dredgers are deployed to continue reclamation around the clock, he said, “We expect that it will be completed next month or latest in February.”

MACL had earlier estimated that reclamation will be completed within approximately five months, which will add around 30 percent or 62 hectares of land to the airport.

The USD 373 million (MVR 5.7 billion) project to develop a second runway in INIA aims to establish a new runway measuring 3,400 metres in length and 60 metres in width. The project includes development of a new cargo terminal with a capacity of 120,000 tonnes and a fuel farm with a storage of 45 million litres.

INIA’s new runway is part of the government’s USD 800 million (MVR 12.3 billion) project to develop and expand the airport. The project also features development of a new international terminal, the design of which is nearly finished according to MACL.

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