Today Samarkand has turned into a large-scale construction site. The "Pearl of the East", as it was called by chroniclers and poets of antiquity called it, is becoming a veritable megalopolis for travelers from all over the world. In order to further develop the tourist attractiveness of Samarkand, many grandiose objects are being built in the city, while dozens more are undergoing reconstruction.
Samarkand International Airport was built in 1967, did not meet modern requirements and could not cope with the growing passenger traffic. Therefore, in 2018, it was decided to reconstruct it. In 2020, Enter Engineering started implementing this project, which includes the construction of a new international terminal and the modernization of the old one, the construction of a runway, as well as the updating of radar systems in accordance with modern requirements and standards.
At the moment, Enter Engineering has fully completed concrete (35,640 m3) and reinforcement (3,510 tons) works, masonry of brick walls (1,210,000 units), wall and floor tiles (20,346 m2). Facade works, installation of elevators and escalators, installation of metal structures, engineering communications of HVAC and electrics have been completed. The implementation of warning and fire alarm systems is in the final stage. In addition, the ventilation and sewage works have been fully completed.
To date, on the first (Ground) and second (Mezzanine) floors of the terminal, cleaning of rooms and corridors, laying of linoleum, as well as furniture is arranged. On the third (International departure) and the fourth (CIP-zone) floors finish finishing. In addition, work is being completed on covering the roof canopy and sun protection with an aluminum block, lighting the facade and installing acrylic, as well as landscaping.
With the launch of the new terminal, the total capacity of the airport will increase from 350 to 1000 passengers per hour, the potential passenger traffic - from 460 thousand to 2 million per year, and the number of scheduled flights - from 40 to 120 per week. In addition, the project includes 24 parking spaces for aircraft.
When visitors come to Samarkand they will be greeted by a stunning new terminal — designed in the form of an open book with a direct reference to a book by Mirzo Ulugbek that appeared in 1444, “New Guragan astronomical tables”. The roof of the terminal will represent a map of the starry sky with some constellations recognizable from the air, especially when landing at night.
First flight from the new terminal will take off on March 19 on the route Samarkand-Tashkent. Samarkand International Airport will very soon take its rightful place in the list of successfully implemented projects of Enter Engineering. It will become the hallmark of the ancient city along with the world-famous historical and architectural monuments, and will also play a huge role in the development of tourism in Uzbekistan.
