THE New Islamabad International Airport under construction near Fatehjang, Attock District, which was originally scheduled for completion in December 2010, is now expected to be functional by 2014.

This vital project is a typical case of poor planning, inefficient management and improper monitoring that has resulted in huge cost over-runs, while so far depriving the nation of a world-class airport.

Planned in 1984, it could not take-off due to a variety of factors, as mode of work, project parameters and procedure for award of contract were revised a number of times.

Though the required land of 3,200 acres was acquired in 1980s, the project, which is being implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on self-financing basis, could be announced as late as on January 7, 2005. But, again, there was no progress.

Meanwhile, it was decided to acquire an additional 400-acres of land. The government suffered substantial loss in the deal as land was purchased at very high cost through direct private negotiations. The after-thought of purchase of additional land impacted on the progress of the project.

Finally, the project was launched on April 7, 2007, envisaging completion over three years. Interestingly, this was done without approval of feasibility report, and without conducting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study, both pre-requisites for commencing construction of a project of this nature and magnitude.

The mandatory EIA report was finalised in September 2010. By this time, the original estimates of Rs18 billion (2005) were already outdated and the construction contracts were awarded in 2007-08 at Rs37 billion. On completion, the project is now estimated to cost about Rs66 billion.

Contract for site preparation and other earthworks was awarded in 2007 at a cost of Rs1.5 billion, to be over in 18 months.

Ironically, this was done in the absence of detailed design and engineering of airport complex. Services of the American consultants were engaged later for development of master plan of airport and its project management, whereas designing of airport infrastructure was assigned to a French company.

Most modern and largest in the country, the green-field airport has been designed in accordance with international standards and practices, employing state-of-the-art facility for wide-body aircrafts of latest generation.

The complex comprises, among other facilities, four rapid-exit taxiways, an apron to accommodate 20 aircraft, a special parking area for ‘hijacked aircraft’, and a 15-gate terminal with 10 remote gates. Its design addresses key issues of safety, security and efficiency.

The airport will provide passenger-friendly services that include 42 immigration counters, nine baggage claim carousels, 12 x-ray machines, car-parking for 2,000 vehicles, a covered plaza area for 200 cars , hotel, convention centre, food court and leisure facilities etc.

Works of airport complex is divided into three categories— airside infrastructure, landside infrastructure and passenger terminal building.

Contract for airside and landside infrastructure was awarded in August 2008 at sterling 156 million with 24-months completion period.

The work was suspended by contractor in early 2009, and resumed after almost six months, due to financial constraints, in spite of the fact that contractor was paid Rs1.75 billion as mobilisation advance.

Contract for terminal building, to be completed in 30 months, was awarded simultaneously. Later, overall completion date of project was revised to June 2011 that could not be achieved either.

Progress as on June, 30 2012 on airside infrastructure was 86 per cent and on landside infrastructure 39 per cent. Work is complete on the two runways—one main and other emergency, which will be operated independently, in parallel.

The CAA ran the first test flight to the airport on March 23, 2012 to check its runways. Remaining works related to this contract are now scheduled for completion by December this year.

Passenger terminal building, which is of modular design to enabling further expansion, is in advanced stage of construction, with features similar to that of the Singapore Changi Airport.

The new airport is being built to replace existing overloaded and congested airport at Chaklala, so as to meet growing requirements of air traffic and passenger flow. However, when the airport becomes operational in 2014, it may not have enough capacity to handle the projected passengers and cargo.

The air traffic at Islamabad, is growing at a rapid pace, averaging five per cent annually. In the first phase, the new airport will provide facilities to 3.9 million passengers and handle 50,000 tons cargo.

The parameters have already changed. The total number of passengers, domestic and international at Islamabad airport was 3.14 million in 2008-09 and cargo handled 51,557 tons. Thus, there will be over four million passengers using this airport in 2014.

The new airport will be upgraded in phases to achieve full operational capability to meet traffic of 9.3 million passengers and 80,000 tons cargo, projected up to 2030. Airport facilities are to be expanded beyond 2030.

The government, which has a poor track record of completing large projects within time-schedules, needs to take effective steps to complete the New Benazir Bhutto International Airport, as it is known now, without further delays and cost over-runs.