Operating HSIA 3rd Terminal: Japanese firm tipped to get the job

A Japanese company is likely to get the job of operating the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), which includes ground and cargo handling.

However, administrative, security, immigration, and customs services will be provided by officials and employees of the government agencies concerned.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has recently appointed Japanese consulting firm Nippon Koei to determine how an operating company would run the airport, how profits and expenditures would be shared, and who would be responsible for what, sources at CAAB said.

Several domestic and foreign companies have shown interest in operating the third terminal.

The Japanese company has already submitted a proposal for this and a meeting was recently held at the Prime Minister's Office to discuss the proposal.

Sources at the civil aviation ministry said the government is positive about the proposal.

The government in January approved in principle that the third terminal would be operated and maintained under Public-Private Partnership.

CAAB said it runs all airports in the country, including HSIA, with its own manpower. Biman does the ground and cargo handling in all eight airports.

Amid widespread dissatisfaction of government high-ups over poor luggage handling services, CAAB decided to outsource the job to a company that can deliver international standard services and serve passengers in the best possible way.

Passengers at the HSIA have been facing problems like mishandling of luggage for years. Sometimes passengers have to wait more than an hour after arrival to get their luggage.

"Although Biman is trying to improve the quality of services … it's not enough. We want to ensure international standard ground handling services at the third terminal," CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said, adding, "At the same time, it will help increase the government's income."

CAAB is now conducting a study on how the work will be done, where money will be spent, and how CAAB will earn.

Around 70 percent of the construction work of the third terminal has already been completed and the terminal will have a soft opening in October, the CAAB chief told The Daily Star.

The third terminal is being built at a cost of Tk 21,399 crore and 70 percent of the money is coming from Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) as loan.

Mitsubishi and Fujita of Japan and Samsung of Korea are constructing the three-storey 2.30 lakh square metres terminal.

It will have 115 check-in counters, 64 departure and 64 arrival immigration desks, 12 boarding bridges, and 16 carousels. It will also have a 5.42 lakh square metre apron for 37 aircraft and 63,000 square metre cargo complex.

A new carpark there will have space for 1,230 vehicles.