HCM City (VNA) - Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The hasurged contractors to complete the upgrade of four taxiwaysand one of HCM City-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport’s two runwaysby the year-end to meet heightened travel demand for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. 

Speaking ata recent meeting with contractors, The said the project needs speeding upto ensure that it be ready by early 2021.

In June, theministry assigned the Cuu Long Corporation for Investment Development andProject Management of Infrastructure (CIPM) to implement the project, alongwith the consortium of ACC Airport Construction Company Ltd., CIENC04Joint Stock Company, and Civil Engineering Construction Joint Stock Company647. 

According toCIPM, the runway upgrade project, which includes 13 bidding packages,has completed 41 percent of its work.

The runwayis expected to be completed in November and will be tested for 45 days beforeopening in early 2021, as planned, according to CIPM.

CIPM hasrequested that the Government approve the remaining capital of 320 billionVND (13.8 million USD) for project implementation this year.

The said hewould seek capital disbursement approval from the Government, and assured that“there would be no shortage of capital”.

The orderedthe contractors to ensure that technology used in the new signal lightingsystems at the upgraded runway is consistent with the other runway toensure flight safety. 

“Because thenumber of flights has dropped significantly due to the pandemic, an earlyfinish for the project could be done,” he said.

Thetransport chief also ordered the Southern Airports Authority to continueenhancing oversight of the renovation by ensuring security, safety,environmental sanitation, and fire prevention and safety.

The upgradework began on the runway and four taxiways on June 30.

Tan Son Nhathas two parallel runways, 3.8km long and 45m wide each, designed to handlewide-bodied aircraft used for long-haul flights. During the upgrade, aircraftwill take off and land on the other runway. 

The upgradeproject costs more than 2 trillion VND (86.25 million USD) and is dividedinto two phases. The first phase upgrades one runway and four taxiways(over six months).

The secondphase will include construction of other works for flight management, signallights, reflective paint on runways and taxiways, and new drainage systemsand ancillary works (over 14 months).

In a relatedissue, work to upgrade runway and taxiways also began in June at Hanoi-based NoiBai International Airport, according to the ministry.

The ministryhas assigned the Vietnam Aviation Administration, Vietnam Airport Corporation,and Vietnam Flight Management Corporation to work closely with thecontractors and the ministry to ensure safety and security duringconstruction as well as the quality and progress of the project.

Since 2017runways and taxiways at both Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai airports have showncracks, subsidence and several broken concrete slabs due to overloading, theministry said.

Flightoperations would likely be disrupted if the current deterioration of therunway surface was not repaired or upgraded in time, it said.

The existingrunway and taxiway systems of the two airports would not meet demand by2025, when 44 million passengers are expected per year at the Noi Baiairport and 50 million at the Tan Son Nhat airport.

Last year,the two airports served 70.5 million passengers, accounting for 60.5 percent ofthe country’s total passenger volume./.