The new airport will cover a total area of 542 hectares, with total investment of VNĐ10 trillion (US$42 million). Photo nhipsongkinhdoanh.vn

BÌNH THUẬN — The Ministry of Defence has urged authorities in Bình Thuận to speed up the progress of Phan Thiết Airport, which is planned to be a military and civil airport with international flight operations. 

The new airport will cover a total area of 542ha, with investment of VNĐ10 trillion (US$42 million). The military airbase covers 150ha, which aims to become a new airbase and a site for pilot training and combat readiness training.

The civil international airport is expected to welcome 500,000 customers annually, which will promote the socio-economic development of Bình Thuận Province and the south central coast region of Việt Nam.

The province has completed clearing 545.45ha of land and still has 100ha more near the border of Phan Thiết City and Bắc Bình, Hàm Thuận Bắc districts, which are currently public service buildings, navigation stations, air defence areas and connecting roads.

Deputy Minister Nguyễn Tân Cương ordered authorities to push on with the progress of the civilian airport as well as relocate Từ Lâm Monastery to not affect the spiritual environment.

Bình Thuận is also asked to complete Phan Thiết’s land-use planning for 2021-2030 period, as well as handing out all land needed for the construction to the Air and Air Defence Force. The People’s Committee in Bắc Bình and Hàm Thuận Bắc districts are requested to finalise the compensation payment plan and clearing land, to deliver to the Air and Air Defence Force until May 2023.

To solve the shortage of construction materials, the Deputy Minister ordered Bình Thuận to work with the Air and Air Defence Force to figure out the current demand for materials. From there, they need to assess the mine areas, one of which is within Hàm Thuận Bắc District. Besides that, they need to instruct businesses to have and extend their mining licenses to meet the needs of the project. VNS