Mayor of Almaty: "The Terminal Will Be Put Into Operation in August 2003"

Kazakhstan today

Victor Khrapunov, the Mayor of Almaty, informed a “Kazakhstan – today” newspaper that the Almaty Airport terminal will be operating by July – August of 2003.

According to Mr. Khrapunov, the cost of the airport increased from $25 million to $52.3 million due to the changes introduced to the Airport’s project according to security measures. In particular, after consulting the air companies that use the Almaty airport it was decided to install four telescopic gangways instead of only three as stipulated in the old project. The safety systems, baggage processing and the electricity supply were all reconsidered. A new line of electricity supply was installed at the airport; and its length is more than 10 kilometers. A 5.7 kilometer fire-preventing water pipe was also set; it takes the water from the Talgar reservoir. According to the Mayor, “It was decided that the terminal would be expanded to be more convenient, comfortable and safer.”

At the moment $23.8 million has been invested in the construction of the airport. “We worked out the question of receiving credit loan resources in the amount of $29 million for the term of ten years under 9% annual interest rates with a one-year privileged period from the US Company “Odel,” as this was needed for completing the construction,” – Mr. Khrapunov said. Practically there are no problems at the moment”, - concluded the Mayor of Almaty.

Currently, electrical equipment and electronic mechanisms are being installed at the terminal. Installation of elevators and escalators will be completed soon and telescopic gangways have already been delivered.