Will the construction cost of Shahjalal’s third terminal increase again?
The cost of the construction of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport may increase by another 2,000 crore taka. The construction contractor has demanded payment of this cost to improve the aesthetics and quality of construction materials. Admitting the issue, the Civil Aviation Chairman said that the cost will be reviewed and adjusted. However, experts have also questioned the rationality of the cost increase and say that the flaws need to be found.
Although the third terminal of Dhaka Airport was supposed to provide full passenger services in 2024, it has not been launched. On the contrary, due to the inability to complete the work, another 2,000 crore taka may be added to the new cost account. Some changes are coming in the construction work. The contractor has demanded additional money for the decoration and new additions of some places including the VVIP zone.
Basically, there were irregularities and low-quality construction materials in various parts of the huge project. Civil Aviation has reported additional costs for more than 500 such variations. It is said that the ACC is investigating corruption along with the work.
Bebichak Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md. Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan said that the irregularities in the work of the terminal and the remaining work are being fixed by sitting with the contracting company. Along with the work, the ACC is doing its work. Now efforts are being made to launch the terminal as soon as possible.
After the start of construction in 2019, the work of the third terminal has not stopped even during the Corona period. In that case, experts are raising questions about the increase in cost. Aviation expert Kazi Wahidul Alam said that those who evaluated the cost of the project could not identify the problems in advance; that needs to be found out. However, even if the cost increases, it must be at a reasonable level. Increasing the cost by 2 thousand crore taka is not an acceptable solution.
However, the Bebichak Chairman said that the matter will be resolved legally by keeping their own interests in mind. He said that complications have arisen in this work long ago. However, efforts are being made to resolve those complications by preserving interests.
In 2017, the cost proposal for the construction of the third terminal was 13 thousand crore taka. In 2022, it increased to 21 thousand 400 crore taka. This time, if new expenditure is added, it will cost 23 thousand crore taka.
