Caan invites EoI; seeks consultant
KATHMANDU, OCT 14 -
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) has invited expressions of interest (EoI) from consulting firms to help it implement an improvement project at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
The proposed improvement works consist of rehabilitating the airport’s 3,050 x 60 metre runway and 1,950 x 23 metre parallel taxiway, exit taxiway pavement, drainage and airfield lighting including the runway centre line lights. The deadline for submitting the EoI is December 7.
The main job of the consultant will be to assist Caan to implement the project by providing assistance in management, procurement and supervision and administration of the contract, said Caan.
According to a report submitted recently by Ayesa Ingenieria of Spain which had been contracted to make an evaluation of the runway and taxiway at TIA, the runway is not strong enough to handle wide-body aircraft due to its ageing asphalt foundation, and distress is caused to the upper surface instantly when heavy jets land. The damage to the lower asphalt layers is reflected quickly in the upper surface resulting in cracks and other damage to the runway.
The study report has suggested that the lower layers of the runway be dug up and the foundation repaved by removing damaged asphalt layers and substituting them with a new base and surface courses.
Repeated occurrences of cracks on the runway at the country’s sole international aerial gateway have been affecting smooth operation of aircraft since 2011. Scores of flights have had to be diverted or delayed in recent years due to problems in the runway. Trouble mainly occurs during the rainy season.
The report said that when compared to the core part of the runway between 2006 and 2013, damage to the intermediate layers was caused by the operation of large jets like the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777.
In 2013, there were 1,000 operations of A330-300 aircraft, 955 of Boeing 777 and 452 of A330-200, and the numbers are expected to double in the next 20 years.
Cracks first appeared on the runway in June 2011, and they have become a recurrent problem now. Cracks were reported occasionally in 2012. However, the problem worsened in 2013, forcing Caan to take a harsh decision to bar wide-body aircraft from landing at TIA for a month.
In August last year, Caan had requested international carriers serving Kathmandu to use smaller aircraft or restrict their load to 196 tonnes in a bid to prevent further damage to the runway.
Caan has allocated $ 28 million to begin improvement work this year. As the government had authorized Caan to charge an additional Rs 1,000 in airport development tax per passenger from July 17, the funds raised form the travellers will be used to repay its loans and finance its projects.
While approving the plan for the next five years, the Finance Ministry has ordered Caan not to spend this money on administrative costs or salaries and benefits of its employees.
The ministry has told Caan to set up a separate fund mechanism or bank account to be used for improving the facilities at TIA. Caan has been collecting Rs 1.70 billion a year in passenger service charges and is expected to raise another Rs 1.40 billion annually following the enforcement of the development tax.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
