🇧🇩 Sea Ports/Air Ports/River Ports/Mega Projects (2 Viewers)

[Bilal9]

97pc work of HSIA third terminal complete: minister
Photo: Collected

Around 97 percent construction work of the third terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has been completed, Civil Aviation Minister Faruk Khan said yesterday.
"I am satisfied with the progress ... It [the terminal] is likely to be fully operational by the end of this year or early next year," said the minister at a press briefing after visiting the terminal.
Only three percent of work, which includes calibration and testing of various systems is yet to be completed, he said.

"The work of the building has been done very well. It's beautiful. But its success depends on proper maintenance. I conveyed these to the Japanese construction company. I am very hopeful that CAAB is preparing its staff to operate the terminal in a proper manner," the minister said.

Asked about the construction of a second runway at the Dhaka airport as per the requirements of the third terminal, Faruk said, "The Instrument Landing System is being improved on the existing runway. Radars are being improved. However, we have plans for a second runway."

However, due to buildings nearby, it poses a challenge, he added.

Regarding the poor luggage handling service, he said, "Passenger handling is a big challenge for any country. Passengers think that the luggage will be handed over to them as soon as they get off the plane. It's never possible. We are trying to improve."

About the ground handling, Faruk said Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which has been enjoying a monopoly so far, will manage the ground operation under a joint venture with a reputed global service provider chosen by the Japanese consortium.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the soft launch of the third terminal on October 7 last year.

The project, involving Tk 21,300 crore, commenced on December 28, 2019.

 

[Bilal9]

View attachment 6186

97pc work of HSIA third terminal complete: minister
Photo: Collected

Around 97 percent construction work of the third terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has been completed, Civil Aviation Minister Faruk Khan said yesterday.
"I am satisfied with the progress ... It [the terminal] is likely to be fully operational by the end of this year or early next year," said the minister at a press briefing after visiting the terminal.
Only three percent of work, which includes calibration and testing of various systems is yet to be completed, he said.

"The work of the building has been done very well. It's beautiful. But its success depends on proper maintenance. I conveyed these to the Japanese construction company. I am very hopeful that CAAB is preparing its staff to operate the terminal in a proper manner," the minister said.

Asked about the construction of a second runway at the Dhaka airport as per the requirements of the third terminal, Faruk said, "The Instrument Landing System is being improved on the existing runway. Radars are being improved. However, we have plans for a second runway."

However, due to buildings nearby, it poses a challenge, he added.

Regarding the poor luggage handling service, he said, "Passenger handling is a big challenge for any country. Passengers think that the luggage will be handed over to them as soon as they get off the plane. It's never possible. We are trying to improve."

About the ground handling, Faruk said Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which has been enjoying a monopoly so far, will manage the ground operation under a joint venture with a reputed global service provider chosen by the Japanese consortium.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the soft launch of the third terminal on October 7 last year.

The project, involving Tk 21,300 crore, commenced on December 28, 2019.

NOT HAPPY about the fact that Biman is still involved in ground handling. Should've been given to the Japanese outright. Biman is an airline and should not be involved in ground handling at all. This was a less-than-wise political move by CAAB and the Minister to curry favor with Biman staff and mgmt.

 

[Saif]

Matarbari port to be ‘green, eco-friendly’

CHATTOGRAM: Matarbari deep-sea port in Cox's Bazar will be a green, natural port of the country with ample trees and a friendly ecosystem. Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said Matarbari port would help the country handle a growing volume of export-import trade...

www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Matarbari port to be 'green, eco-friendly'
NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL | Published: February 26, 2023 08:45:07

CHATTOGRAM: Matarbari deep-sea port in Cox's Bazar will be a green, natural port of the country with ample trees and a friendly ecosystem. Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan said Matarbari port would help the country handle a growing volume of export-import trade and ease pressure on Chittagong port. The government is also constructing coal-based power plant, LNG terminal and development of highways there.

"We'll plant trees on blank land of the port. Most of the port area will be green and eco-friendly. It'll also be a natural port with a green ecosystem."

"The ultra-critical maintenance system of the coal project will also be eco-friendly and 43 per cent of heat produced there will be converted to power," Mr Shahjahan told the FE.

An ecological balance will be ensured at the port and its contiguous areas, he added.

This port will become the region's most important export-import hub in future.

It will play a catalytic role and gain the reputation of the region's most important feeder port for mother vessels from the ports of neighbouring countries.

Mr Shahjahan said once the country's first deep-sea port would contribute 2.0 to 3.0 per cent to the growth of the national economy.

"The main objective of the project is to enhance the cargo-handling capacity of Bangladesh through constructing the deep-sea port and thus facilitate speedy port services with the neighbouring countries."

The existing yearly container-handling capacity of Chittagong port is 3.2-million TEUS of container. The growing demand will exceed the existing handling capacity within the next few years.

"We have to increase the handling capacity by 4.0 more million TEUS by 2033. Mongla and Payra ports won't be able to meet the growing demand," added Mr Shahjahan.

The maritime connectivity of Bangladesh would increase remarkably as Matarbari port will enhance the total capacity of Chittagong port in handling cargoes and containers several times.

It may be mentioned that the Deep-sea Port Development Project is being implemented with the financing of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Bilal9]

Dhaka Airport 3rd Terminal design features, rest area facilities.

 

[Saif]

Dhaka Airport 3rd Terminal design features, rest area facilities.

Is there any plan to upgrade 1st and 2nd terminals?

 

[Bilal9]

Is there any plan to upgrade 1st and 2nd terminals?

Good question. After spending thousands of crores on the third terminal, they will be (I believe) reluctant to spend money on anything else in that place, including 1st and 2nd terminals. The latter old terminals may get regional (or even domestic flight) usage, which is logical. Some superficial interior refurbishment may be performed but no major rebuilds.

But the prime international airline routes will all now be at the 3rd terminal, most major global airlines and retailers are chomping at the bit to grab prime real estate there, including upper class flight lounges and of course, high traffic retail outlets like refreshment and food outlets and sit-down restaurants etc.

As yet, part of the existing fallow land in the airport has already been turned into malls and luxury hotel space, near the airport road. The mall was just opened I believe as I saw in a video - they showed a food court which was quite sophisticated and looked like Dubai's main food court in the terminal. This is the inevitable gradual conversion into commercial activity for most of the unused portion of the airport. There is also massive cargo activity and a huge cargo terminal is also being built where the old cargo processing area was, near the CAAB HQ. The New CAAB HQ was built and moved to the opposite side of the airport, where the new modern Haji Camp was also built.

The govt. wanted to build a brand new world class airport like Suvarnabhumi in the outskirts of Dhaka and that seems to be more and more possible, where they will not have the space constraints this airport has and where all the money and investments will now be directed, with at least four runways and room to expand. Feasibility studies may already be under way. If the current airport at Kurmitola is like Tokyo's Haneda, they are trying to build something like Kansai or Narita, or better yet, Suvarnabhumi at a nice spot outside of Dhaka.

 

[Saif]

The govt. wanted to build a brand new world class airport like Suvarnabhumi in the outskirts of Dhaka and that seems to be more and more possible, where they will not have the space constraints this airport has and where all the money and investments will now be directed, with at least four runways and room to expand. Feasibility studies may already be under way. If the current airport at Kurmitola is like Tokyo's Haneda, they are trying to build something like Kansai or Narita, or better yet, Suvarnabhumi at a nice spot outside of Dhaka.

The new airport project has been pushed to the back burner because of unavailability of suitable location to build the airport. Hope they find a suitable place to build the modern airport that we need very badly.

 

[Bilal9]

The new airport project has been pushed to the back burner because of unavailability of suitable location to build the airport. Hope they find a suitable place to build the modern airport that we need very badly.

That is correct - the site is yet to be determined and the few they chose before (around char areas) were opposed by violent protests as I remember. But in my opinion, North of Dhaka will be a far better choice - anywhere near the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway corridor, but close enough to Dhaka. That area is more stable geologically (older land form as opposed to Southern silt deposit areas) and probably has better road connectivity to North Bengal and Sylhet, where most of the passengers originate from.

 

[Saif]

Patenga Container Terminal of Ctg Port begins operation

The much-anticipated Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port commenced operations on Monday, marking a significant milestone for the port and the country. A container vessel, the Singapore-flagged ‘MAERSK DAVAO,’ anchored at the terminal this morning, initiating regular han

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Patenga Container Terminal of Ctg Port begins operation
UNB
Published :
Jun 10, 2024 16:51
Updated :
Jun 10, 2024 22:32

The much-anticipated Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of Chattogram Port commenced operations on Monday, marking a significant milestone for the port and the country.

A container vessel, the Singapore-flagged 'MAERSK DAVAO,' anchored at the terminal this morning, initiating regular handling activities. Authorities anticipate the terminal will handle approximately 500,000 Twenty-ft Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually.

PCT is the first terminal in Chattogram Port's history to be operated by a foreign company, heralding a new era of foreign investment and operational models. This transformation has positioned Chattogram as a landlord port, a significant upgrade for Bangladesh's maritime infrastructure.

Six months ago, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) signed an agreement with the Jeddah-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) of Saudi Arabia. Following customs formalities and equipment installations, Red Sea Gateway Bangladesh Limited has now officially commenced operations.

Omar Faruk, Secretary of CPA, confirmed that RSGT is fully prepared to manage container handling at the newly built terminal. According to the CPA, the new terminal will not only enhance the port's capacity but also reduce the average stay time for vessels.

Constructed at a cost of Tk 1.50 billion, funded by the port, the PCT features state-of-the-art facilities, including gantry cranes that significantly increase loading and unloading efficiency. Rear Admiral Md Sohail, Chairman of the Chattogram Port Authority, noted that it would take approximately 18 months for the terminal to become fully operational.

The PCT was built on 32 acres of land near Chattogram Drydock Limited to Boat Club, with the foundation stone laid on September 8, 2017. The project, supervised by the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Army, commenced construction in 2018, involving a total cost of Tk 12.30 billion.

With the new terminal, vessels will no longer need to wait at the outer anchorage for extended periods, as the Patenga Container Terminal can accommodate four vessels at once across its jetties. This increased capacity is expected to alleviate congestion and streamline operations at Chattogram Port.​