The cost of upgrading Dhaka airport has been raised by Tk36 crore because the consulting firm did not notice before that there was a four-feet deep layer of clay under the taxiway which must be removed.
On January 30 last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the upgradation project for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The project was supposed to be completed within two years of commissioning.
The Civil Aviation Ministry proposal, signed by its Secretary Khorsad Alam Chowdhury, to raise the cost will be placed for approval at today's meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase.
Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon told the Dhaka Tribune that the project would be completed within the stipulated two-year time frame.
According to the original proposal, the airport is being upgraded at a cost of Tk445 crore, provided by the Danish International Development Agency as a grant. The government has exempted around Tk85 crore in duties on the import of equipment.
The proposal says the additional Tk36 crore will be needed by South African contractor Munch Asphalt for removing the clay from the taxiway and replacing it with suitable sand to reconstruct the pavement.
The proposal also says that Danish consultant Ramboll did not notice the clay when preparing the plan.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh is implementing the project titled Upgradation of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
