BIA Terminal 2 Development Project in progress to meet post Covid-19 tourism and aviation growth

BIA Terminal 2 Development Project is underway to meet the future demands of the tourism and the aviation industry. The Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited – (AASL) began building the BIA terminal 2 in December 2020 and construction activities are underway despite the challenges of COVID-19 global pandemic.

Construction work on the new terminal 2 commenced on December 15, 2020 and it is expected to complete the project on December 14, 2023. Project Management Unit (PMU), AASL together with the JV Japan Airport Consultants (JAC)/Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. – (JAC/NK), the consultants of the project and TAISEI Corporation, Japan, the contractor, are working towards the achievement of the objectives of the project.

“Preliminary works and soil investigations for pile foundations have been completed. Clearing the areas for main Terminal building by root balling existing trees and replanting, hoarding for the construction area, boring and concreting of pile foundations for Main Terminal Building & viaduct (overhead entry and exit to Main Terminal Building) etc. are in progress, said Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri, Chairman, AASL.

Airside construction work is yet to start. Since the development activities are taking place in an operational airport, it requires special prior approvals by Aviation Authorities with operational impact, safety and security studies with regard to the effect of construction activities on airport operations carried out by the contractor and the project consultant”, he further said.

Under the Package B, construction work commenced on April 25, 2017 and it was expected to be completed on February 29, 2020. However, work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation during the latter part of its completion.

The contractor has been able to complete 94% of the work and the remaining Polymer Modified Asphalt overlaying will be completed within the next months. Once completed, 23 new aircraft parking bases will be added to the new terminal.

Aruna Warushahennadige, Director Aviation Projects/Director AASL, said that every construction activity such as piling work is carried out as per the guidelines given with the approval of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) for the implementation of the project and a daily environmental monitoring schedule is done by a National Research Organization (NBRO) team. Air quality, water quality, noise, vibration and dust etc. are monitored in all areas of the construction sites at regular intervals during the monitoring.

“BIA Terminal 2 is designed to get the LEED accreditation (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the present design has all the features to consider for the silver status going beyond expectation as it was originally expected to receive Bronze certification. With the construction process and usage of specified material for the construction combined with the overall design, we expect to get the Gold certification under LEED accreditation for the Terminal 2 with the completion of the Project. The project is being constructed preserving 30% energy and 40% water consumption”, he noted.

Developing Colombo as a destination for aviation and construction of the Terminal 2 of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) had been a dire need for the country’s socio-economic development. Air transportation today determines a country’s economic power and the successful completion of these infrastructure projects automatically elevates the country’s economic prosperity, by adding to its foreign exchange earnings, GDP, creating new jobs, creating new industries, and expanding aviation, and travel-related industries.

Airports play a significant role in branding nations and they act as catalysts for socio-economic prosperity. The commencement of BIA Terminal 2 will be a giant step towards becoming an aviation hub in the region. Sri Lanka will fly to new heights of the globe.

(AASL Press Release)