Field of Service: Aviation / Airport Planning and DesignRegion: Asia
Client: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Country: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)UZBEKISTAN

IRAN

Rehabilitation of Bamyan Airport

KYRGYZSTANTURKMENISTAN

CHINA

AFGHANISTANPAKISTAN

INDIA

QATAR
UAE
OMAN

Proposed Terminal Area

Runway before Construction Work

Passenger Terminal Building

Project Overview:Afghanistan is a land-locked country, and air transportation
plays an important role in national transportation for bothpeople and goods due to its steep mountainous geography.
Bamyan is the capital of Bamyan province, located at 230 km
northwest from Kabul City, the capital of Afghanistan. Bamyan
has a large number of natural, historical, and cultural attractions
such as the “Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remainsof the Bamyan Valley” which was inscribed on the List ofUNESCO World Heritage in Danger in 2003. Also in thesuburbs of the ancient city of Bamyan lies a dramatic series ofsix blue-water lakes known as “Band-e-Amir.” Attracting
thousands of tourists each year, it is expected to become a hubof tourism in Afghanistan.
Bamyan Airport, located at the south of Bamyan town, only
had non-scheduled flight operated by piston-powered propeller
aircraft with 5-20 passengers and/or helicopters with 20passengers. Although a few national airlines in Afghanistan
was willing to operate commercial flights by twin engine
turbo-prop aircraft with 50 passengers, its demand wasobstructed by poor airport facilities, i.e. no paved runway, noair navigation aids, no fire fighting service, no snow removal
equipment, and no passenger terminal building. Confronted bysuch challenges, the Government of Afghanistan (GOA)requested the Government of Japan (GOJ) to undertake theproject for improvement of Bamyan Airport with the objectivesof improving the airport facilities to facilitate the commercial
air services in Bamyan Airport and improving the safety ofaircraft operation. In response, the GOJ through JICA carriedout a preparatory survey to evaluate the rationale of the project
and to provide basic design and project cost estimate requiredfor due formalities under Japanese Grant Aid scheme. The
Project was carried out by UNOPS funded by JICA and thenew airport facilities were completed in 2014. As the result ofthe project, commercial scheduled air service has commenced.

Fire Station

Formation: Main Contract
Type of Work: Study / Detail Design, Assistance in Tendering andConstruction Supervision
Project Term: November 2011 - May 2014
Outline of Project:[Objectives]
To improve the facilities of Bamyan Airport in order to facilitate thecommercial air service in Bamyan Airport and to enhance the safety ofaircraft operations.
[Scope of Rehabilitation in Bamyan Airport]
1. Rehabilitation of runway: 2,200m length and 30 m width
2. Earthwork of runway strip and transitional surface
ICAO Design Aircraft Category 2C, runway airstrip width 80 m
3. New aircraft parking apron: 4 parking spots for medium TP
4. Perimeter fence and gates
5. New passenger terminal building
6. New fire station & utility building
7. New generator shed
8. Navigation aids facilities
9. Fire fighting equipment
10. Airport maintenance equipment
11. Airport security equipment
Expected Outcome:- More tourists will be able to visit Bamyan having scheduled
commercial flights operated in Bamyan Airport.
- Local residents of Bamyan may be able to get better and safer roundtrip
access to Kabul with commercial flights operation.
- Construction of the perimeter fence will prevent furtherincidents of interference in flight operation caused byresidents and vehicles freely crossing the runway.