Project for modernization of Cox's Bazar airport

DHAKA, 23 Jan- Aiming to boost tourism through enhancing regional connectivity, the government has launched a project for up-gradation and modernization of Cox's Bazar Airport.Under the project, take-off and landing facilities at the airport would be expanded for large aircrafts."We've taken the project considering future to exploit the tourism prospects of Cox's Bazar and other areas in the region," said planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal.Mentioning that Cox's Bazar, the longest sea beach in the world, has been able to draw tourist's attention following its selection as one of the wondering tourist spots, he said "Now the existing facilities of the airport are needed to be upgraded to international standards to facilitate movement of the tourists."Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has cleared the project: "Development of Cox's Bazar Airport (1st phase)", with a cost of Taka 1193 crore. The government will bear Taka 801.66 crore from the national exchequer while the organisation concerned will contribute the remaining Taka 391.66 crore from its own fund.Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAA,B) is to implement the project by June 2018.Replying to a query on the revision of the project, the planning minister said they would need to relocate nearly four thousand people who are living adjacent to the airport for its expansion. "Prime Minister has given direction to relocate the entire people into a small island on the opposite site of the river which would require additional cost," revealed Mustafa Kamal. CAA,B took the project in 2009 involving Taka 302.65 crore to complete it by June 2012. But, the government extended the timeframe up to December 2013 with the revised expenditure of Taka 549.64 crore. However, CAA,B failed to implement the project in the stipulated time and extended the implementation period up to June 2015.
Again, failing to implement in time, CAA,B went for another revision of the project and sought additional Taka 890.67 crore, from the original outlay of Taka 302 crore, while implementation period was extended up to December 2018.The Cox's Bazar aerodrome was built during the World War-II. Now, the airport is being used for carrying cargoes and passengers. It is one of the attractive routes for domestic airlines as thousands of tourists take flights to Cox's Bazar. -BSS