Favorable signal for investment in construction and expansion of Phu Cat Airport

The Ministry of Transport has agreed to immediately invest in the construction of runway No. 2, connecting taxiways and other works in the airport area at Phu Cat Airport with a total investment of about 3,013 billion VND.

Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee believes that upgrading Phu Cat airport infrastructure to meet people's travel needs is very necessary.

The Ministry of Transport has just sent a report to the Government leaders on a number of proposals from the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province regarding investment in the expansion of Phu Cat Airport.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport affirmed the need to soon build runway number 2 of Phu Cat Airport.

In the context that the Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Airports Corporation - ACV have not been able to balance capital for investment in the period of 2021-2025, implementing the policy of promoting decentralization and delegation of authority, the Ministry of Transport supports the assignment of the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to organize the investment in the construction of runway No. 2 and other works in the airport area.

While waiting for a specific policy allowing the use of local budgets to invest in airport infrastructure, the Ministry of Transport recommends that the Government leaders allow the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to study and implement in advance investment preparation procedures and other necessary procedures to carry out site clearance work according to the plan using local capital.

During the preparation process, Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee closely coordinated with military units on land issues and dioxin treatment in this area (if any).

The Ministry of Transport also proposed to assign the Ministry of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to study and balance capital sources, and promptly advise the Government to allocate about 1,500 billion VND from the central budget to the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to support the implementation of this project. The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of National Defense were assigned to direct relevant units to guide and support the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to remove obstacles in the process of preparing and implementing the project.

Previously, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province submitted a document requesting the Government and the Prime Minister to approve the investment plan for Phu Cat Airport.

The planned items include construction of runway 2, connecting taxiways and other works in the airport area; construction and relocation of military works to hand over land for the expansion of the civil aviation area; construction of the civil aviation area.

In the immediate phase, it is allowed to immediately invest in the construction of runway No. 2, connecting taxiways and other works in the airport area, with a total investment of about 3,013 billion VND (compensation and site clearance value of about 1,008 billion VND), to meet the socio-economic development needs of the locality.

The People's Committee of Binh Dinh province proposed that the Government consider submitting to the National Assembly for approval a special mechanism to assign the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to organize the investment in the construction of runway No. 2 and other works in the airport area from the budget capital managed by the province (including central support capital of about 1,500 billion VND).

According to the Ministry of Transport, the investment implementation plan proposed by the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province is consistent with the Phu Cat Airport Planning approved by the Ministry of Transport. The implementation into 3 projects is also consistent with the nature and necessary investment roadmap of these projects.

Phu Cat Airport was built in the 1960s - 1970s. In 1975, when the country was unified, Phu Cat Airport was used as a base for the Vietnam Air Force.

Phu Cat Airport is located in an area with an important strategic position in terms of defense and security in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands regions; it is an important military base in the national defense system, so there are regular military activities here and most of the land is managed by the Ministry of National Defense.

In 1985, Phu Cat Airport began operating civil aviation activities and became Phu Cat Airport. Phu Cat Airport has 1 concrete runway, currently under the management of the Ministry of National Defense.

After about 60 years of use (almost 3 times longer than the design life), most of the concrete slabs are now cracked, creating a risk of debris causing unsafe operations; at the same time, the low load-bearing capacity only ensures the operation of reduced-load aircraft such as A320/321 and equivalent.

Given the above situation, it is necessary to repair, renovate and upgrade this runway. However, since this is a concrete runway, the airport must be closed for a long period of time (not less than 6 months) to repair, renovate and upgrade.

Closing Phu Cat Airport will not ensure the combat readiness of military units, and will greatly affect tourism and socio-economic development of Binh Dinh province.

Therefore, when planning Phu Cat Airport for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Ministry of Transport agreed with the Ministry of National Defense and the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province to study the planning of runway No. 2 for Phu Cat Airport for investment and construction to ensure safe and effective civil aviation operations.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-hieu-thuan-cho-viec-dau-tu-xay-dung-mo-rong-cang-hang-khong-phu-cat-d221082.html