The project to develop a new seaplane terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) kicked off Monday.
Economic minister Mohamed Saeed inaugurated the ceremony, which was attended by the Chinese ambassador to the Maldives, Zhang Lizhong, and senior officials from the project contractor, Beijing Urban Construction group (BUCG) of China. BUCG is also the contractor of the project to develop VIA’s new runway.
While addressing the gathering, the economic minster stated that President Abdulla Yameen is looking to make the Maldives' main airport "very green" by the time the main development projects are completed this year. He added that a special team has already started work on this venture.
Saeed, who is appointed by the president to over see the operations of MACL, satted that the Maldives is looking to welcome a lot more tourists in the future and, thus, the improvement of MACL staff is essential. The state is working to send employees to training institutions all over the world, he revealed.
The land reclamation for the new seaplane terminal began in the lagoon behind the Air Traffic Control Tower in the east of the island last April 26. The total cost of developing the seaplane terminal is at USD 30 million (MVR 462.6 million).
MACL's managing director Adil Moosa declared that the new seaplane terminal in VIA would be the largest in the Maldives. He proclaimed that the Maldives beats all the countries in terms of experience in operating seaplane bases.
Adil also shed light on the master plan to develop VIA, under which several projects have been started. The seaplane terminal is a crucial part of this plan.
The new four-story seaplane terminal is designed to be twice the size of the former, and can be expanded even further, according to Adil. It would feature an arrival lobby and VIP services, which are not available from the current seaplane terminal. In addition to this, restaurants, lounges and other services needed by passengers would be available. The standard of the services provided would improve greatly with the new terminal, added Adil.
According to MACL, the new terminal will take up 18,000 square meters of the reclaimed land while 14,000 square meters are allocated for the seaplane hangar. The terminal will feature over 80 docking platforms while the floor area, lounges and boarding gates are to be 50 percent bigger than old terminal.
While work has begun on the new seaplane terminal, both Saeed and Adil assured that VIA's second runway will be completed and unveiled within the year as well.
Sign In