GMR expands Ibrahim Nasir International Airport development plans

GMR, the Indian company running the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) at Hulhulé, Maldives, has expanded plans for the development of the Airport.

GMR today shared its plans for INIA with the media.

Under the expanded plans, the GMR would spend more than 11 million US Dollars to develop the existing terminal. Speaking to the press, Andrew Harrison, the CEO of GMR Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, said that the original budget for developing the terminal was 4 million Dollars.

Among the changes that have now been brought to the terminal include addition of security screen machines and baggage belts, as well as modification of the interior decoration.

Mr. Harrison said that projects being carried out at the terminal currently would be complete by September this year, and that new services would be available at the terminal with the completion of these projects. Those services would include new cafés, retail outlets, and better travel agency and resort counters.

GMR also said that the company would include components unmentioned in its agreement with the Maldivian Government in the expanded development plans for INIA. Giving details about the said components, Richard Meredith, Chief Development Officer of the Airport, said that a taxi way would be developed as an emergency runway. He said that GMR needed to get approval from the Government for the project, as it was not covered in the agreement. He also said that the project would need additional funds.

“We need to reclaim land to build an emergency runway, or a taxi way, and we have already proposed this plan to the Government. The taxiway would be built adjacently, right next the current runway, and it will be of 2800 meters in length and 45 meters in width. It is not the size of a standard runway, but it could be used as a runway for landing”, said Mr. Richard.

GMR today informed the media about a new terminal as well. Vivek Sinhal, Deputy Chief Development Officer of GADL International Limited, said that works of the new terminal were begun during the first week of this month. He said that the bulk of the work of the foundation of new terminal was already complete.

“Structure of the building would be complete by January. This is the first building of the sort in the Maldives. The first floor would be underground”, said Mr. Sinhal.

The new terminal, 55,000 square meters in floor size, would be built in such a way as to welcome sunlight as much as possible. 70 per cent of the building would be built with glass. It has been located at reclaimed land at South-Eastern side of Hulhulé. The new terminal would also feature electronic bridges for boarding, as well as additional cafés and restaurants.

Mr. Harrison said that GMR did not “concern itself with the statements of politicians”, and that the company’s focus was on completion of INIA development projects as per the deadlines. He said that the new terminal would come into operation by July 2014.

Mr. Harrison said that the total value of INIA development projects would hit some 511 million US Dollars.