Govt seeks 902cr taka to operationalise Dhaka airport third terminal: Minister

The government has sought 902 crore taka to complete the remaining works and operationalise the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Sunday.

Replying to a supplementary question from NCP lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud (Noakhali-6), the minister said the third terminal was presented as completed by the previous government, but several essential components, including the integration of machinery and related Airport Development and Construction (ADC) works, had remained unfinished.

He said the project, originally estimated at around 13,000 crore taka, underwent several revisions before the cost reached 21,600 crore taka.

“When we came into office, we found that the terminal had been constructed at a cost of 21,600 crore taka,” Millat said.

He said the government found that although the building had been inaugurated, essential integrated facilities had not been completed.

“The machines had arrived, but no integration had been done. The other ADC works related to it had also not been completed,” he said.

Describing the terminal as an asset worth about $2.1 billion, the minister said keeping it unused would cause significant losses to the country.

“Since this is a $2.1 billion asset, we need to operationalise it very quickly to protect the asset,” he said.

Millat said the government had calculated the additional requirement at 902 crore taka on the basis of transparency, including outstanding payments and the amount required to make the terminal operational.

“We have calculated, accurately and transparently, that 902 crore taka will be required to pay the outstanding dues and complete the necessary works so that the third terminal can be brought into operation,” he said.

The minister said the government had approached the Planning Ministry for approval and the Finance Ministry was taking steps to arrange the allocation.

He said the terminal would substantially increase passenger-handling capacity and revenue once operational.

“At present, we can handle around 1.2 million passengers. Once the third terminal starts operating, we will be able to handle twice that number,” Millat said.

He added that the increased revenue generated from the terminal would help the government repay the loan taken for the project.

The minister said the government had already repaid 1,100 crore taka as an instalment of the loan after assuming office.

“The sooner we start the terminal, the sooner we can earn revenue, and the sooner we can repay the loan,” he said.

Millat warned that failure to complete and operationalise the terminal would leave the country with an expensive but underutilised facility.

“We do not want it to remain merely a building, as it happened under the previous government. It is harmful for the nation, the people and the country,” he said.