Bacha Khan airport’s expansion work in final stages

PESHAWAR: The expansion work on the Bacha Khan International Airport is in the final stages and expected to be completed by next month.

“The expansion work is almost complete and the project will be inaugurated next month,” said Nadir Shafi Dar, Director Planning and Development, Civil Aviation Authority (CCA).

He said the expansion work was launched in January 2016 at an initial cost of Rs1.80 billion. “Initially we had planned the expansion of the airport on 80,000 square feet. The airport lacked various facilities for passengers and staff and needed immediate expansion,” he explained.

Nadir Shafi Dar said that when he assumed charge he resolved that the only airport in the provincial capital needed to be upgraded. “The lounges were very small and the passengers would wander around. I decided to prepare a comprehensive expansion plan to provide more facilities and improve the existing ones at the airport,” he recalled.

The official said the project was supposed to be completed in 18 months, but it was revised to include some more facilities. “I thought the people would criticise me for spending Rs1.80 billion on the project so I revised it,” he added.

Nadir Shafi Dar said the project was further expanded to 200,000 square feet and the cost increased to Rs2.90 billion.

He said the project included installation of elevators and escalators, expansion of lounges for both domestic and international passengers, setting up of more checking counters for international passengers, construction of immigration counters and purchase of furniture, bridges, boarding bridges, VIP lounges for international and domestic passengers, commercial shops, offices for staff and other facilities. The official said that previously there were only eight checking counters for international passengers but now these have been increased to 20. “The airport can now manage three international flights at a time,” he pointed out.

He said the capacity of the lounges for international passengers has been increased from 200 to 800. “The capacity of the lounges for domestic passengers has been increased from 90 to 200. “The capacity for VIPs at the lounges for international passenger has been increased from 40 to 80. The domestic VIP lounge could accommodate 20 passengers but now it would be able to handle 40,” he explained.

Nadir Shafi Dar said there were no avios bridges at the airport and air-stairs were used to board and exit the aircraft. “We have constructed two avios bridges for the passengers to board and alight from the aircraft,” he added.

He said another avios bridge could be set up in future if the need arose. “The current expansion will cater to the needs of passengers and facilitate flight operations for 15 years,” he pointed out.

Another official said that strict checking at the checkposts along the roads leading to the airport delayed the project as trucks loaded with construction material were sometimes disallowed to proceed further.