HCM CITY — The Ministry of Transport is considering to use investment from the Airports Corporation of Việt Nam (ACV), or call for capital resources to build more runways and terminals at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport.

“The construction is following a recent plan, approved by the Prime Minister, to expand and upgrade Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport by building another terminal south of the current one with total expected expenditure of VNĐ18 trillion (US$790 million),” Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyễn Ngọc Đông informed at the quarterly press conference on March 30.

The plan is proposed by the French consultant company ADPI. Accordingly, a 200,000sq.m-wide passenger terminal capable of serving 20 million travellers will be constructed to the south of Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport. 

The northern area of the airport, including a golf resort and an area of 16ha managed by the Ministry of Defence, will also be used for supporting facilities including a cargo terminal, aircraft repair station and logistics starting in 2025.

Accordingly, the airport seeks to be able to serve 57 aircrafts taking off and landing per hour and welcoming 50 million passengers per year. 

Currently, the airport is serving around 35 million passengers per year, causing overcrowding. 

The PM asked the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the ADPI to complete the expansion proposal, and soon start the construction of the new terminal as the airport now runs at 144 per cent, exceeding its capacity planned for 2020.

The PM expected that the expansion of the airport, which is serving both civil and military demands, will be exploited effectively along with Long Thành International Airport, which will come into operation by 2025. 

Trafic congestion

At present, the airport faces serious traffic congestion.

“Another terminal with 20 million passengers built to the south of the airport will worsen the situation, despite the fact that in this area, roads are being expanded, but only in temporary term,” Nguyễn Vĩnh Ninh, director of the HCM City Transport Department’s No 1 Urban Traffic Mangement Board, told the Người Lao Động (Labourers) newspaper.

Right now, Cộng Hoà and Hoàng Hoa Thám roads have already got bidders for extending them but they are waiting for land clearance.

Another solution for coping with traffic jams is to build a road parallel with Cộng Hoà Street, which will mostly run through military land at an area of 6.65ha.

“The construction of a parallel road is very necessary to deal with the traffic situation at the airport and even from HCM City to Cambodia,” Dr Võ Kim Cương, former deputy chief architect of HCM City, said.

“This is a long-term, stable, efficient solution for the development of HCM City and the aviation industry,” he added.

He also suggested that traffic management should change the traffic direction in order to reduce the number of vehicles travelling to Trường Sơn Street, the only road connected to the airport right now.

“Many ’transit’ vehicles travelling through Trường Sơn road have caused more traffic congestion in the region. Changing traffic direction would cost very little but help us cope with the situation,” he added.

Pro. Ass and Dr Phạm Xuân Mai from the Polytechnique University revealed the fact that in the future, there will be 137,000 passengers travelling through the airport everyday and relevant authorities should think to open more gates from Cộng Hoà Street.

“For long-term development, a fly-over road is possible,” he said.

Dr and Architect Ngô Viết Nam Sơn confirmed that “the Tân Sơn Nhất airport is an urban airport, which serves the southern region, not only HCM City, but the master plan for HCM City is not proper.”

“Opening more gates to the airport is a must,” he added.

The municipal Transport Department agreed with the solution and informed that it had suggested that the Ministry of Transport open more gates in Thống Nhất, Tân Sơn and Quang Trung streets in Gò Vấp District, and Trường Chinh and Phạm Văn Bạch streets in Tân Bình District. — VNS