The Malawi Government with funding from the China government has earmarked close to K112.5billion for the construction of a new Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.
The new airport is expected to ease some of the challenges which the travelling public have been worrying about due to the dilapidated state of infrastructure at the current airport.
In an interview with the Malawi News Agency recently, former minister of Transport and Public Works, Sidik Mia said all the processes needed for the construction of the airport were in the final stages and that anytime soon the project would begin.
“Right now the main construction work has not yet started but once it does, we will make sure that the work is done faster so that come mid this year, everything should be complete.
“Currently, we are in the final arrangement with our colleagues from the Chinese government to send us the contractors to start doing the job which is being financed to the tune of $250 million by the Malawi Government together with the Chinese Bank,” said Mia at the time.
According to the former minister, the new airport would be designed to meet the modern and advancing aviation changes.
“This project will among other things, involve the extension of a run-way at the airport to enable large planes to land there and our focus now is to see the new Chileka Airport constructed like the ones in developed countries such as Maputo the capital of Mozambique by having the international standards,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the construction work would not affect the travelling people as everything would be done accordingly.
