The Government will sign the agreement to construct the second phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the contractor - Taisei Corporation on Thursday, March 12, Minister of Industrial Exports, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The project which will cost around Rs. 37 bn funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is due to be completed in three years.
The Cabinet approved the project and every effort would be made to expedite it within three years.
Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., chairman G.A. Chandrasiri told the Sunday Observer that the current terminal building could accommodate only 6.5 million passengers but is handling 10.9 million passengers at present.
With the completion of the second Terminal building, there will be a total handling capacity of 20 million passengers per annum.
The new plans for Terminal 2 will be that the current number of 14 Terminal Gates will be increased twofold to 28, thereby making it 42 which will be ready by 2023. A bigger apron will accommodate 36 aircraft, he said. He said that there would be modern facilities, the latest baggage handling facilities, new immigration facilities, more space for passengers and new Immigration/ Emigration facilities.
This would be a massive Terminal Building which would house a rail facility from the Colombo Fort for both departures and arrivals.
The departures will be on the upper floor while the arrivals will be on the lower floor of the building, he said.
Minister Ranatunga and AASL Chief Major General Chandrasiri said that the work of the contractor would be strictly monitored.