BIA E-Gate project slated for Dec. 2023 meets e-passport obstacle
The much delayed project of installing e-gates at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) as one of the solutions to passenger congestion is slated to be launched as a pilot project by the end of this year amidst a delay in launching e-passports, the Ministry of Ports and Aviation confirmed.
Measures are being made to expedite airport automation and e-gate development pilot project to ease the congestion at the airport awarding the contract to a private technology company, the highest bidder for the tender to install four e-gates by December 2023.
The technical evaluation committee selected the prospective bidder following government tender procedure in a proper manner Minister of Ports and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Business Times.
He added that electronic gates are necessary for the airport as the cabinet has also approved a proposal of the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles to introduce a range of visa programmes, including a novel “Digital Nomad Visa to boost the tourism sector and facilitate remote workers seeking foreign jobs.
However, the effectiveness of this electronic gate system depends on the use of an e-passport that is machine readable, a senior Finance Ministry official said adding that Sri Lankan passports are not yet electronic, and its procurement process is being halted at present due to high costs.
This e-gate project has been considered as not essential at present as the BIA check in and check out back up operations are still not upgraded with modern technology and relevant software to be compatible with the new e -gate system, the official pointed out.
Sri Lankans possessed normal passports and the e-gates will only be beneficial for foreigners with machine readable passports, he said.
Although the project was initiated in 2017, it was not implemented due to various reasons and bids were called on December15, 2021 to award the tender for four e gates, two at the arrival terminal and another two at the departure terminal with four suppliers submitting their bids.
The awarding of the tender dragged for some time due to technical evaluation and the other tender procedures.
However the tender awarding process resumed in July 2022 and it was awarded to the highest bidder who has quoted a price of Rs.430 million at that time, official documents showed.
The bids of three other suppliers who have quoted low prices of Rs. 130 million, Rs. 230 million Rs. 240 million were not considered without citing reasons, informed official sources said.
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