Airport in Khulna to be on fast-track project list
The construction of Khan Jahan Ali (R) Airport of Khulna will be included in the fast-track list to expedite the project execution, a sorce in the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said on June 7
The proposed airport in Khulna would be the 11th project in the government’s fast-track list, which would get preference in implementation.
“An inter-ministerial meeting over airports on Tuesday decided on inclusion of construction of the Khan Jahan Ali (R) Airport in the fast-track list,” said the source.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon presided over the meeting held at the Secretariat.
The executive committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) already approved the construction of Khan Jahan Ali Airport project in May last year with an outlay of around Tk 5.45 billion aiming to expand trade and commerce as well as tourism in greater Khulna region.
The civil aviation authority would implement the airport construction project by 2019 where the government would provide Tk 4.90 billion and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) the remaining Tk 544 million.
The proposed airport would help establish fast communication network in greater Khulna region to expand trade and commerce centering the Mongla Port, export processing zone (EPZ), shrimp industry and Rampal power plant, the meeting observed.
The distance of proposed airport in Khulna would be around 20 kilometres from both Khulna city and Mongla Port.
The airport would help further expansion of tourism in the southern region centering the world’s largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans, Shat Gombuj Masjid (60-dome mosque) and the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali (RA).
To implement the project, some 536 acres of land would be acquired. Construction of 204,153 square metres of runway and taxiway alongside the construction of 18,564 square metres residential buildings are included in the project.
