The construction of a major airport Terminal in Tanzania is well on course,minister for Works, Transport and Communications Prof Makame Mbarawa has announced.
Also read:Tanzania Airports Authority says US$1.8b needed to upgrade airports
According to the minister the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) is currently about to be completed as 65% of the work have been done.
Mr Mbarawa said that the project will be completed on time as they have all it takes for it to be done.
Mbarawa added the new terminal will be a game changer on how operations take place I the country as it will ensure that the of international arrivals will be extended 6 million passengers per annum in a total terminal area of 60,000 square meters.
“The project is being carried out by the government of Tanzania and all the funds comes from the government kitty and we believe that there is no need of the locals to worry” he added
He said that the contractor who was working on Phase I and II of the project has pledged to deliver the project at a cost of 560bn/-.
He further said the construction work was expected to be completed in December, while the government was also implementing other rehabilitation projects in 13 airports countrywide, including Songwe, Kilimanjaro International Airports (KIA) and Sumbawanga.
The minister said in 2014 the total flow of passengers at JNIA reached 2.5 million beyond its normal capacity of 1.2 million. Terminals 1 and 2 will be used for domestic flights, which grew to 7.4 per cent in 2014.
The minister also added that the government is set to increase funds towards improving the transport sector which is the backbone of the economy.
“We have already started to plan for the next financial year budget and we have already proposed an increase of funds towards the transport industry which we believe gives residents a saving coin” he added