Govt to build Khan Jahan Ali Airport under PPP

The government will build Khan Jahan Ali Airport under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement at an approximate cost of over Tk 5.45 billion, officials said.
To this effect, the cabinet committee on public purchase is likely to give its consent to the project during its meeting next week for building the airport in Bagerhat.
The airport will help ensure effectiveness of the Mongla Port, faster regional connectivity, quick shipment of goods/relief materials from one place to another during natural calamities and develop tourism sector of the country.  
The government needs to acquire 468.54 acres of private lands. It will also utilise 67.45 acres of khas lands for building the airport, according to the ministry of civil aviation and tourism (MoCAT).  
The office of the deputy commissioner of Bagerhat has started the process for acquiring the lands for airport purpose.        
The DC of Bagerhat has to disburse about Tk 3.19 billion to land owners for acquiring their 536 acres of land.
Around Tk 2.36 billion will be needed for land acquisition for the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17.
But only Tk 200 million was allocated in the ADP of the current fiscal.
The project, which will be implemented by the civil aviation authority, got approval from the executive committee of the national economic council (ECNEC) on May 5, 2015.
"We sent the project proposal to the cabinet division for getting approval of the cabinet committee on public purchase for building Khan Jahan Ali Airport," an official of the MoCAT told the FE.  
    talhabinhabib@yahoo.com