The Gelephu International Airport is moving into its next major phase of construction. With earthworks nearing completion, the focus is now shifting to the runway and other permanent airfield infrastructure. The contract for the project was awarded today.
The earthworks at the airport is nearing completion. The works are gradually transitioning into constructing the airfield, marking another major leap in realising one of Bhutan’s newest gateways to the world.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority has awarded the contract to Rigsar-Vajra Joint Venture, which is already carrying out the project’s first earthworks package.
At the contract award ceremony, the GMCA Co-Chief Executive Officer, Lee Seow Hiang, said the project is now moving from preparing the ground to building the infrastructure needed to connect Bhutan with the world.
For Rigsar-Vajra Joint Venture, the contract marks the next step in work already underway. The airfield will transform the prepared site into a functioning airport.
But the emphasis is not only on getting the airport built quickly. The GMCA’s Head of City Development, Tashi Penjor, said the standards set during the construction will determine the airport that ultimately takes shape.
“The standards that we set today will define the airport for tomorrow. Therefore, let us approach this project with urgency but never at the expense of quality, with ambition but never at the expense of our environment, and with speed but always with safety and integrity.”
The airfield package includes a 3,000-meter runway designed for wide-bodied commercial aircraft. It will also have taxiways, aircraft parking aprons, airfield lighting, an air traffic control tower and other specialist airport systems.
One of those systems will assist pilots during one of the most critical stages of flight, landing. An Instrument Landing System, or ILS, will provide guidance to help aircraft align with the runway and descend safely, particularly when visibility is reduced.
Work areas will be handed over progressively over the coming month, allowing airfield construction to begin. The works will progress alongside construction of the passenger terminal and associated landside facilities. Both major packages are targeted for completion ahead of the airport’s planned December 2029 opening. At peak construction, the project is expected to employ more than 800 workers.
For now, Gelephu has an airport construction site. But the next phase will begin to give that site the defining features of an airport: a runway, aircraft systems and the infrastructure needed to put Gelephu on the aviation map.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
