As massive earthworks near completion, the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA) has officially awarded the major airfield construction contract to the Rigsar-Vajra Joint Venture, marking a monumental step forward in realizing Bhutan’s ambitious vision for a global aviation gateway. Building upon their ongoing work with the initial earthworks package, the joint venture will now transition the site into a fully functioning airport designed to connect the nation with the world. During the official contract award ceremony, GMCA Co-Chief Executive Officer Lee Seow Hiang highlighted that the project is successfully moving from preparing the raw ground to constructing vital infrastructure. Echoing this commitment to excellence, GMCA’s Head of City Development, Tashi Penjor, emphasized that the standards established during construction will define the airport’s future, urging the project teams to balance operational urgency and ambition with uncompromising dedication to environmental protection, structural quality, safety, and institutional integrity. The comprehensive airfield package encompasses a state-of-the-art 3,000-meter runway engineered specifically to accommodate wide-bodied commercial aircraft, alongside supporting taxiways, aircraft parking aprons, advanced airfield lighting, an air traffic control tower, and critical specialized airport systems. Among these technological installations is an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which will provide crucial precision guidance to help pilots safely align and descend during periods of low visibility. Work zones will be progressively handed over to the contractors over the coming month, allowing airfield construction to ramp up in tandem with the concurrent development of the passenger terminal and other essential landside facilities. Both major project packages are firmly on track for completion ahead of the airport’s anticipated grand opening in December 2029, a massive undertaking that is projected to employ more than 800 workers at peak construction phases. What began strictly as a large-scale earthworks site is now rapidly transforming into a world-class aviation hub featuring a modern runway, advanced navigation systems, and the foundational infrastructure required to place Gelephu firmly on the international aviation map.
