Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, April 1 / Trend H. Hasanov /
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has viewed the construction project of a new international airport in Ashgabat that began at the beginning of the year by the Turkish Polimeks Company, Turkmen media reported on Monday.
According to the report, the head of state made a number of recommendations and suggestions.
"The new capital airport must comply in all respects with modern requirement and international standards primarily related to safety and the high level of service and comfort of passengers," Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper quoted the president.
The article states that having an exceptionally advantageous geographical position being situated at the strategic crossroad of regional and inter-regional routes, Turkmenistan has an impressive transit potential and tries to realizse it with a maximum return.
Berdymuhamedov also issued an instruction to include the construction of an additional road in the project.
According to him, arrival of dignitaries at the airport might lead to limited traffic on the highway leading to the airport, thereby creating problems for drivers and passengers.
The head of state demanded an assurance of an excellent quality of work and strict compliance with deadlines.
According to the Turkish media, the State National Service Türkmenhowaýollary (Turkmenistan Airlines) signed a contract on this project with Polimeks amounting to over $2.2 billion.
Polimeks has implemented about 120 construction projects in Turkmenistan, including the construction of the airport and in the city of Turkmenbashi on the Caspian coast. It is expected the role of a consulting company will be carried out by German Airport Consulting Partners, ILF Consulting Engineers which won the international tender.
The capacity of the new airport in Ashgabat will be 1600 passengers per hour and 200,000 tons per year. It is designed to accept any type of aircraft with any carrying capacity. The terminal complex will be located in an area of 1200 hectares.
The project provides for the construction of three terminals: passenger, VIP and cargo, as well as a new runway with the length of 3800 metres, taxing runways, parking lots, piers, an air traffic control centre and an administration building.