Infraero intends to start works in Cumbica in February
Valor Econômico
The beginning of the works of the third passenger terminal of the airport of Cumbica in São Paulo, a project that has been constantly postponed in recent years, will finally come out of the paper. The Infraero (Brazilian Company of Airport Infrastructure) assures that within up to two weeks it will be signed an agreement with the Army to start the works in Guarulhos. In the coming days, the Board of Directors of the State company sets the contract value with the Army, estimated at nearly R$ 350 million (US$ 205.9 million). "We sign the service order until the end of the month and our goal is that the first stage of the works starts still in February", said Jaime Parreira, Engineering and Environmental Director of Infraero, in an interview to Valor.
The first stage concerns the earthmoving works for the construction of the terminal, which will move 3.7 million cubic meters of earth, 1.7 million in the excavation for the aircraft patio and the terminal and another 2 million to the embankment of the area. The Army will only perform part of the service, according Parreira. By mid-April, Infraero wants to release the rules for the contracting of the companies that will conclude the earthworks of the terminal, public bidding that will be divided into two batches. The total budget estimated for such works is of nearly R$ 800 million (US$ 470.6 million).
Once the earthworks are hired, the Infraero wants to bid, until July, the whole infrastructure part of the terminal, which involves from the civil construction to the acquisition of equipment. The bidding will be divided into seven other lots: The goal of Infraero is that, until November 2013, the 3rd terminal of Cumbica be operating at 45% of its total capacity, structure that, according to the State company, shall be enough to meet the demand in that year. The fact the works of the third terminal of Cumbica being initiated represents, by itself, a breakthrough. The project that is part of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) had deadlines set in 2008. At that time, the goal of the Government was to deliver the structure this year.
To help solve the current issues of limitation in its infrastructure, the Infraero is putting up temporary terminals in Cumbica. Three terminals will be erected at the international airport at a cost of R$ 58.4 million (US$ 34.4 million). The first module, with capacity for up to 1 million people a year, will be delivered until March. The conclusion of the second temporary terminal, with capacity for 3 million passengers a year, is scheduled for January 2012. A third module should be delivered in January 2013, big enough to receive 2.5 million people a year.