The expansion of the airport will also improve air transport in the central zone regions.
Minister for Works, Transport and
Communication Professor Makame Mbarawa expressed satisfaction with the
speed at which the contractor is implementing the project, saying that
the work will be completed as per set contractual period.
He said to date, 80 per cent of the work has been done within 45 days since the commencement of renovation work.
The speed used to rehabilitate the
airport will also be applied in the construction of other airports in
the country to improve their status. “We believe that with this speed
the contractor and supervisor will complete this work as per contractual
time to allow big aircraft to land and takeoff.
Upon completion, the airport will enable
aircraft with capacity of between 70 and 90 passengers to land and take
off,” Mr Mbarawa said. Supervisor of the project form Tanzania Airports
Authority (TAA), Mr Mbila Mdemu, said that rehabilitation and expansion
work was being done day and night basing on quality and standard
assuring that it will be completed as planned.
“We were given this work; we assure you
that it will be completed as per directives/ to allow people surrounding
Dodoma Region and neighbouring regions to enjoy the aviation
transport,” he said. The work, which is in its final stages, has
included rehabilitation of the aircraft parking bay and runways.
The airport’s expansion and
rehabilitation is funded by the government at a cost of 11.8bn/- . Upon
completion, it will increase the volume of passenger and cargo traffic
to the central zone regions.
Last month, during the laying of the
foundation stone for the airport’s upgrading, the Prime Minister, Mr
Kassim Majaliwa, said the big airplanes could land at the airport after
completion of the upgrading work at the airport, expressing optimism
that local airlines, such as Air Tanzania, Precision Air and FastJet
would begin flights to Dodoma to cater for growing business.
Also speaking during the laying of the
foundation stone, Prof Mbarawa told the PM that the renovation and
expansion would be ready for use by air firms after six weeks -- and be
able to accommodate bigger planes with the capacity of 90 passengers as
well as cargo.
Prof Mbarawa also said the technical
designs and consultancy works were both done by local experts rated by
Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) and Tanzania Building Agency (TBA). The
expansion would cost the government a total of 11.5bn/-
