Renovation at airport Second phase at US$38M

The second phase of the Banjul International Airport (BIA) renovation project has been estimated at US$38 millions, the Daily Observer can reveal. The project, expected to kick off next month, is backed by the Kuwaiti Fund, the government of the Islamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and OPEC Fund for International Development.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Observer, Nfansu Bojang, the director general of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, said the second phase is intended to expand the fire and rescue service station, double the current capacities of aprons to 90,000m2 and rehabilitate the existing one.

Mr Bojang added that the renovation will cover the expansion of the carpark and improve accessibility to the runway, rehabilitate  passenger terminal and the control tower.

Considering that the first phase involved a sum of US$21 million, Bojang observed that the airport currently has one runway, but this is being doubled under the first phase. He added that the old runaway is being resurfaced, as well as the ground lighting system and airfield, which are at a completion stage.

He said the dual carriageway from Brikama Highway towards the airport junction has been electrified and the inner perimeter fence replaced. According to him, a 264KV generator has been installed as a back up for effective supply of electricity.

Coupled with the modern control tower, he outlined that BIA provides a friendly environment that is accessible to all passengers and airline companies.

The GCAA boss credited the government for the enormous renovation taking place at airport.