The construction of the country’s first maritime runway, in Cox’s Bazar, is going on schedule despite various challenges since the project was inaugurated last year.
The project recently reached a major milestone as all the work on reclaiming land from the sea has been completed.
“More than 19% of the construction work was done as of February 2022, so it is a rapidly progressing project of Bangladesh,” said Li Guangqi, site manager for the Cox’s Bazar Runway Extension project.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) inked the deal for the project with the Chinese joint venture of Changjiang Yichang Waterway Engineering Bureau (CYWEB) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on February 9, 2021. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction work on August 29 last year.
The estimated cost of the project is Tk1,568.86 crore.
According to project documents, the deadline to finish construction is May 10, 2024. However, Li Gaungqi said they are planning to complete construction work by September 2023 despite challenges posed by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Challenges
Project officials said the main construction work started after the inauguration in August last year, but a surge in Covid-19 cases due to the arrival of the Omicron variant soon threatened to cause disruption.
However, the Chinese joint venture continued to work while maintaining health guidelines during the spike in Covid-19. More than 50 foreign engineers, experts, and staff are working on the project.
The Russia-Ukraine war is posing a challenge as it has interrupted the raw material and equipment import process by causing delays at various seaports.
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“Overcoming all the challenges, like Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, construction work is progressing. We are committed to finishing it in time,” said Li.
Construction materials for the project, such as stone, are mostly imported from Malaysia. Most of the equipment, tools and machinery are being imported from China.
Runway to boost tourism
Under the agreement, the contractor will extend the existing 9,000ft runway by 1,700ft towards the Maheshkhali Channel through coastal land reclamation. Once completed, it will be the longest runway in the country.
The length of the runway at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is 10,500ft.
The extended runway will allow much larger aircraft to take off and land at Cox’s Bazar airport, paving the way for it to operate international flights.
“It will be a marvellous runway as it is being constructed by reclaiming land from the sea at the largest sea beach in the world. There will also be an airfield ground lighting system. Tourists who arrive in Bangladesh will be impressed to see it,” said Li.
“Cox’s Bazar airport is being converted into an international airport with an attractive runway. It will help to boost tourism, despite it being an ambitious project for Bangladesh,” said Md Rafeuzzaman, president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB).
“Various development projects are underway to turn Cox’s Bazar into an international tourist destination. The runway extension project is one of the most vital parts of these projects,” he added.
The project was approved by the government on November 4, 2018.