In a significant development, around 70 percent of work has been completed in the ongoing construction of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA). The expected inauguration of NGIA will mark a new era of modern airways that connect the world with Gwadar. Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) official told Gwadar Pro that the entire scope of work of NGIA involving civil work, structural work, mechanical work and engineering work (except navigational & communication work) are almost complete. Now what is left basically is finishing nip and tuck procedures that are in robust progress on fast-track with the joint effort of professional teams of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan, he said.

Meanwhile, work is also underway for the installation and operationalization of navigational and communication apparatus.  As all equipment has reached the site, it might take 60 days to complete the task, he revealed."State-of-the-art runway, the centerpiece of NGIR, has completed all the phases of construction at international standardization. It is furnished with all kinds of marking and signs that include basic markings, threshold markings, centerline & aim point markings, mandatory signs, informational signs, location signs and distance signs. Special Runway Thresholds like runway lights and runway closure signs are done and dusted as well," he added.

"High-tech pavements are ready to be used. Pavements are now provided for runways, taxiways, aprons, and any other areas where aircraft are maneuvered. Pavements are designed in such a way that they can bear the loads imposed by aircraft being free from dust and other particles that could be blown up and ingested into engines," he mentioned. Besides, he elaborated that modern airfields are also completed for the conduction of visual meteorological conditions (VMC). "It complements a painted runway centreline and large painted numbers indicating the magnetic bearing of the runway. It is also equipped with instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) to facilitate landing and takeoff at night.

At airfields where aircraft operate in very poor visibility, touchdown-zone lighting has been put in place. These lights, set in patterns flush with the runway pavement, provide guidance up to the final moment of touchdown," he added. Construction of ATC tower, runway, apron, taxiway, operational building, complex registration office, water supply system, PTCL fiber optic, desalination plant, grid station and security system are completed. New Gwadar International Airport spreading over an area of 4,300 acres is going to be the biggest airport in Pakistan. It will have the capacity to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as ATR 72 and Boeing B-737, as well as wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A-380 and Boeing B-747 for domestic and international routes. 

The airport will be operated under the open sky policy and will be developed under the guidance of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It is expected to stimulate the development in the Gwadar peninsula and boost trade between Pakistan and China. The under-constructed New Gwadar International Airport is located 26km northeast of the existing airport in Gwadar City on the south-western Arabian Sea coast of Balochistan . The groundbreaking ceremony of the airport was held in March 2019. New Gwadar International Airport will also have the provision to build a second runway, which will be located north of the main runway. The greenfield airport will feature a modern terminal building as well.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP