Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has said the contractor has begun laying the foundation of the new passenger terminal to be developed at Velana International Airport (VIA).
The project was contracted to Saudi Bin Laden Group on May, 22 2016 but the development of the terminal was suspended for various reasons. The project was launched again on June 27 after some changes was brought to the agreement.
The estimated cost of the passenger terminal, which is developed in an area of 78,000 square metres, is USD 357 million. Under the new agreement with Bin Laden Group, the size of the area allocated for the project remains unchanged. However, the design of the terminal would illustrate Maldivian lifestyle.
The contractor has begun to place the sheet piles for the new foundation, which will be concluded within a period of 30 months, according to MACL. The passenger services at the new terminal is expected to begin in 2022.
The current passenger terminal at VIA handles 1.5 million passengers a year. MACL hopes to cater an estimated 7 million passengers a year when the new passenger terminal is completed.