AN urgent meeting is being arranged by a group of MPs who want the government to push back the opening of the new airport terminal over claims it was simply not ready.
Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee is planning to meet Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed and Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf before the end of this month to get an update on the progress of work.
Authorities have always maintained that the new 207,000sqm terminal building at Bahrain International Airport would open by the third quarter of this year.
However, the committee wants to push it back to early next year to ensure all systems were in place, the employees were properly trained on new technologies, and the operations were being conducted efficiently and smoothly.
“It is impossible to have the new airport opened next month,” said area MP Mohammed Al Abbasi, who is a former airport employee.
Mr Al Abbasi
“It is clearly visible that procedures and the systems are not ready, even by just looking at the status of the facility you will know that not everything is ready.
Rush
“These matters should not be rushed to meet the October deadline.
“I have held unofficial talks with the companies contracted to equip and arrange the airport and they have told me that work will be fully completed by December.
“I mean even if the technicalities are managed by December the training aspect and ensuring there are no flaws is another factor that will also take time – so January is a safe timing to have the opening.”
His comments were reiterated by committee chairman MP Abdulrazzak Al Hattab, who said it was evident from the start that the deadline was ambitious.
Mr Al Hattab
“We are summoning both responsible ministers for details on the new schedule as we knew from the beginning that October’s deadline would be missed,” he said.
“More time will be given, but it shouldn’t exceed the end of the year because we will start using our parliamentary monitoring tools against those responsible for the delay.”
The new airport terminal building will include a 4,600sqm departure hall, 104 check-in counters, 36 passport control booths and 24 security screening points.
It is four times the size of the existing terminal and will be able to accommodate 14 million passengers a year.
Other features of the new terminal will include incubators for entrepreneurs, hospitality lounges, car parks, travellators and 24 gated stands for aircraft.
There are also two main hospitality lounges, one run by Gulf Air and the other by Bahrain Airport Company.
A hotel, pharmacy and a privately-managed airport clinic are among amenities that will greet travellers at the terminal.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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