The Phase 1 of the Taxiway Charlie Rebuild Project at the Velana International Airport (VIA) has been completed and officially handed over to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
The project was carried out by China's Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), which has played a significant role in the VIA expansion project.
The four-phase project was awarded on 15 October last year and BUCG has completed phase I 84 days ahead of schedule, according to MACL.
BUCG officially handed over the project completion certificate to MACL at a ceremony held at the Hulhule’ Island Hotel (HIH) to mark the completion of the first phase of the project attended by senior officials from both companies alongside Civil Aviation Authority officials.
MACL Deputy Managing Director Mujthaba Jaleel received the completion certificate from BUCG’s Project Director Kang Guang Bo.
Speaking at the ceremony, MACL’s Chairperson Aisha Nurain Janah said the completion of the Taxiway Charlie development project will ease operations of airlines flying in and out of VIA. She also thanked BUCG for being an important and reliable partner in the development of the country’s main airport.
VIA ceased using the old runway in 2022 when operations were switched to the new Code-F runway. The old runway, developed in 1976 with a total length of 3200 metres has undergone various repairs amid plans to utilise it as a taxiway.
MACL has estimated that once the taxiway Charlie rebuild project is completed, it will reduce the average turnaround time of a commercial airline to VIA by at least 20 minutes.