GMR consortium set to complete new Istanbul terminal 12 months early

Turkey: A consortium co-led by India’s powerful GMR Group has pledged to open the new terminal at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SGIA) in Istanbul a year ahead of its original opening date of October 2010.
The consortium - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operations Inc (Sabiha Gökçen) - comprises Limak Insaat Sanayi San Ve Tic Turkey (40%), GMR Group (40%), and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (20%).
At a groundbreaking ceremony held on Saturday, the consortium was officially awarded its 20-year operating licence. Guest of honour, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asked the consortium to reduce the terminal completion time from the agreed 30 months to just 18 months.
"We cannot wait that long,” he said, adding that he wanted the terminal to be operational on 29 October, 2009 – Turkey’s Republic Day.
The Prime Minister of Turkey with the consortium partners on stage, asking them to complete the project in a record 18 months instead of the stipulated 30 months
The Chairman of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operations Inc, Nihat Özdemir, said that the rapid growth of the airport will be accelerated.
GM Rao, Group Chairman of GMR, pledged to open the terminal according to the new schedule.
The consortium will carry out all aeronautical activities as well as managing the non-aeronautical and commercial businesses - including duty free shopping, food & beverage, a hotel, car parking and advertising. The new-look SGIA will offer world-class infrastructure and facilities offering good connectivity to all parts of Turkey.
Sabiha Gokcen was launched as Istanbul’s second international airport in 2001, after the existing Istanbul Atatürk Airport had reached saturation.
05/05/08 Martin Moodie/MoodieReport, UK

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Categories: Airports May 2008, Foreign May 2008, New May 2008