HCM CITY  — The expansion plan for the HCM City’s Tân Sơn Nhất does not clearly define the airport’s civil, defence and security functions, and does not include plans for using the areas of land under the management of the defence ministry, said Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng.

The deputy PM’s statement was released by the Government office on Wednesday.

The expansion plan aims to ensure the effective use of the land fund as well as defence and security functions, and meet the rising demand for air transport, according to the Government’s announcement.

Deputy PM Dũng asked the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and relevant agencies to consider areas of land used for defence, security and economic purposes, and to confirm or specify the areas for construction of a terminal and other facilities for both civil and defence purposes.

MoT was told to agree with the Ministry of Defence on the area of land (under the latter’s management) to be used for the expansion plan, and consider areas of land to be used for both civil and defence purposes.

To ensure aviation security and safety, the management and operation of the airport should also be further clarified.

The ministry was told to figure out how much investment is needed for the expansion as well as other airport needs, as instructed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

Relevant agencies were asked to map out the best plans for the terminal to ensure economically effective use of land at the airport.

MoT was also told to collaborate with the ministries of Planning and Investment, and Finance and relevant agencies to identify the sources of investment, especially capital from the State, required for the expansion project.

The Government asked the HCM City People’s Committee to join hands with MoT to plan for transportation infrastructure in areas around the airport and to ensure the effective operation of the road networks (around the airport) as well as environmental protection.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam sent the final adjusted plan for the expansion to the transport ministry which was then submitted to related ministries and the HCM City People’s Committee for approval in June.

Under the adjusted plan, a new passenger terminal in the southern area of the airport would accommodate 20 million passengers per year, and by 2025, the airport would have a capacity for up to 50 million passengers per year.

Cargo terminals, aircraft parking and technical maintenance areas will be built in the northern area of the airport. — VNS.