The unveiling of a multimillion-rand extension to the international terminal building of the OR Tambo International Airport was a milestone in preparing for the 2010 World Cup, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The R535-million pier, an extension to the international terminal building, would serve to ease the flow of the 7,9-million overseas passengers passing through the airport each year.
”The official opening also reaffirms our commitment and that of Acsa [Airports Company of South Africa] to develop airport infrastructure in line with passenger growth through its R19,3-billion infrastructure development programme.”
He said developments at the airports were meant to ensure ”a safe and welcoming entry and exit point”.
The new pier was already in operation and was running smoothly.
”The increased number of boarding gates, holding lounges and airside commercial areas that this double-level structure encompasses, has started easing international travellers into their journeys.
”And this together with the new expansion to the existing international terminal building will further enlarge the international departures check-in areas.”
Radebe said he was confident that with the largest infrastructural developments at the airport already in operation, the airport would be a construction-free zone by the beginning of 2010.
”We want to improve the capacity and service standards at our airports as we are now only 984 days away from the prestigious Soccer World Cup,” he said.
Radebe simultaneously launched Transport Month — October — at the unveiling on Sunday. He praised ordinary South Africans for their contribution to transport month for the last three years.
”Over the years ordinary South Africans have been stalwarts in their support for this campaign and the campaign has proved to be an excellent example of accountability on service delivery.”
The minister said is department was involved in the ”most intensive and sustained transport plan ever undertaken” ahead of the World Cup. The event itself would be the ”exciting and spectacular culmination to the plan”.
”We are pulling out all the stops to ensure that this unique opportunity is taken advantage of to the fullest extent,” he said, highlighting the transport projects already under way.
These included: the Bus Rapid Transit networks in Tshwane, the Gautrain Rapid Rail, the Sani Pass Road upgrade, the Public Transport Interchange in Ethekwini, the Khulani Corridor in the Eastern Cape, the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system in Johannesburg and the N1 and N2 toll highway. – Sapa