Dong Nai drafts master plan
Long Thanh International Airport is expected to have the capacity to handle 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo a year.— VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Vy
HCM CITY (VNS) — The southern province of Dong Nai has asked for feedback from local residents and experts on its draft master plan for 21,000ha around the Long Thanh International Airport.
According to the master plan, industrial clusters, small-scale industries, trade service and goods transport will exist along with international level medicine-education-sport-resort services as well as research and training centres.
It is expected that by 2020, when the Long Thanh International Airport comes into operation, around 40 – 50 per cent of human resources in the region will serve the airport.
The master plan is based on major regulations covering infrastructure, and multi-vehicles for transport.
The Long Thanh International Airport was approved by the Prime Minister on August 2011 with its main function as a transit centre in Southeast Asia. Under the master plan, it would have the ability to compete with other regional international airports.
The airport will be built to accommodate big airplanes like the A380-800 and have the capacity to handle 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo per year.
The investment plan for the airport has been divided into three stages. Total investment for the first stage, up to 2020, is US$6.75 billion, of which $6 billion is slated for construction and the rest for ground clearance and compensation. All works will begin in 2015, and the first stage would be finished in 2020.
On the southwest side, the airport’s backbone road will be linked with the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Highway which would connect with the HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Highway (now under construction). On the northeast side, the airport road will be linked with HCM City’s Belt Road No 4.
The airport will also be connected with a high-speed railway system from HCM City – Nha Trang as well as the Thu Thiem – Long Thanh railway system. — VNS
By 2025, at least 5,000 hectares will include a runway, airport station and other service facilities for the airport.
The total of 21,000 hectares planned for the airport area would cover six communes in Long Thanh District and three communes in Cam My District.
North of the airport, nearby HCM City will have 5,720 hectares for airport staff accommodations, services, resettlement and green space.
The area will be developed thanks to the HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay highway.
In an area of 4,400 hectares in the south, there will be an international transit centre, industrial park, perennial fruit trees and parks.
The area will be linked with the Ben Luc – HCM City – Long Thanh Highway and Highway 51 toward the coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau.
Agricultural production, rural residences, resorts and storage will be located near the northeast and southwest runway with a total area of 11,000 ha.
“This is the most favourable place for an airport because it is the gateway of the south – thanks to many highways, which are under construction and that connect HCM City and other Mekong Delta provinces – that links with the rest of the world,” said Ly Thanh Phuong, deputy director of the Dong Nai’s Construction Department, who was quoted in the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
However, Phuong also pointed out that residential areas with high populations would cause difficulties in land clearance and compensation.
Construction on the 21,000 ha will be planned in three stages.
From 2012-2020, the first stage would include the Loc An residential project and road systems linking HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Highway.
The second stage from 2020 – 2025 will comprise urban areas, international hospitals and resorts built in the east.
The third stage will begin in 2025 when the airport is expected to reach maximum capacity. During that time, all planned construction would be completed, along with completed infrastructure that would connect with other southern provinces.
“We’ve worked with the Ministry of Construction to hire foreign experts for the master plan. We are waiting for more feedback. After that, we will submit the plan to the Government for approval,” said Dinh Quoc Thai, chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee. — VNS