Prime Minister gives urgent instructions during 7th inspection of Long Thanh airport

During his 7th direct inspection of the Long Thanh airport site, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reiterated the goal of basically completing the airport and the connecting road network by 2025, and emphasized that if the progress is not guaranteed, the person will be replaced...

On the afternoon of March 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led a working delegation to inspect a number of key transport infrastructure projects, including Long Thanh International Airport, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway and T1 and T2 routes connecting Long Thanh Airport with National Highway 51 and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh and leaders of central and local ministries, branches.

On the same evening, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting to assess the progress of the above projects, focusing on removing obstacles and speeding up the implementation progress.

This is the seventh time the Prime Minister has directly inspected the Long Thanh International Airport project site. In previous meetings, the Prime Minister emphasized the determination to complete the basic project by 2025, one year earlier than the original plan of 2026.

WILL CHANGE PERSONNEL IF PROGRESS IS NOT GUARANTEED
Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the goal of basically completing this airport in 2025; if progress is not guaranteed, then change people. At the same time, when the airport is completed, the connecting traffic projects must also be completed.

Compared to the previous inspection (early February 2025), the project progress has had many positive changes, the shape of the airport is gradually becoming clearer. In which, component project 3 is being actively implemented; the passenger terminal is the central project, the upgrading of the steel structure of the central area of ​​the terminal will be completed this March. Relevant agencies are also actively negotiating with partners to promote the progress of equipment handover.

For 3/11 bidding packages that are selecting contractors, including cargo terminal No. 1, airport management system equipment, wastewater treatment facilities, the Prime Minister requested to speed up the progress, meeting the general progress requirements.

For component project 2, the Prime Minister requested not to delay the progress set for the bidding packages. Regarding component project 1 (headquarters of agencies), other ministries and branches basically meet the schedule. The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to fulfill its commitment to complete the quarantine agency headquarters project by the end of 2025. If it is not completed, it will continue to review and handle responsibilities with the spirit of clearly defining people, clearly defining work, clearly defining progress, clearly defining responsibilities, and clearly defining products.

Regarding issues related to the construction of hangar areas (under component project 4), the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Construction to decide, ensuring equal access, healthy competition among enterprises and investors, putting national and ethnic interests first and foremost, and competing to do well to complete assigned projects.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the progress of the implementation of the projects connecting T1 and T2, and requested the agencies to urgently complete the expressways connecting to Long Thanh airport. The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Construction to immediately research and find solutions to build a subway from Tan Son Nhat Airport to Long Thanh Airport.

Regarding the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway project, the Prime Minister commended Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and requested the completion and technical traffic opening of the section through the province by April 30.

Regarding the remaining 2 component projects through Dong Nai, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Construction and Dong Nai province to urgently resolve the issue of materials, complete the earthworks before June 30 and complete the project before December 31, 2025.

The Prime Minister stated that it is necessary to continue to promote the spirit of self-reliance, self-reliance, and put the interests of the nation and people above all else. First of all, investors and contractors who have tried must try even harder, especially ACV with component project 3; Contractors continue to promote the construction spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain", "working overtime, increasing shifts", "eating quickly, sleeping urgently", "not enough work during the day, working at night", "working 3 shifts, 4 shifts, through holidays, through Tet".

In response to the proposal of Son Hai Group to request an addition to the contract, adjusting the contract value so that the contractor who is constructing the expressway can also work on the My Xuan - Ngai Giao intersection, the Prime Minister assessed that this intersection is very important because it connects with Cai Mep - Thi Vai port; therefore, he agreed in principle and assigned Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to decide.

PASSENGER TERMINAL DETERMINES THE PROGRESS OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT
Previously, according to reports from the agencies, with component project 1 (headquarters of state management agencies), the headquarters of the airport, customs, immigration, and local police have all started construction, while the headquarters of the animal/plant quarantine agency (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) is expected to start construction before May 2025.

Component project 2 (works serving flight management) includes 2 main items: the air traffic control tower and specialized equipment. The air traffic control tower has completed the rough construction, and is installing the steel structure

Component 2 project (works serving flight management) includes 2 main items: air traffic control tower and specialized equipment. The air traffic control tower has completed the rough construction, is installing steel structure on the top of the tower, expected to be completed by April 30, 2025. Regarding the specialized equipment system, construction will be completed in June 2025, then equipment installation will proceed until September 2025. The trial run phase lasts from October to December 2025, before officially putting into operation at the end of 2025.

Regarding component 3 project (essential works in the airport with a total investment of VND 99,000 billion - accounting for the majority of the total investment of the entire project), the total value of the implemented volume has reached nearly 40%; basically completed 3/14 bidding packages, currently implementing construction of 8/11 packages; is selecting contractors for construction of 3/11 packages.

Of which, for package 5.10 (passenger terminal), the construction output reached 35.36%. Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) has been and is continuing to discuss in detail with contractor Vietur and organize a foreign working group to meet with equipment suppliers, negotiate, and promote earlier equipment handover, meeting the basic goal of completing the project in 2025.

To ensure the progress of the passenger terminal, the work of upgrading the steel structure of the central area of ​​the terminal (starting from March 20, 2025) is an extremely important task, deciding the progress of package 5.10 in particular and the progress of the entire project in general, so it must be implemented to ensure progress and safety.

In addition, the Ministry of Construction has also directed specialized units to coordinate closely and send a number of experienced experts to support ACV during the implementation process.

Regarding the runway, taxiway, and apron system, the construction output has reached 76.34%. According to the plan, the runway and taxiway will be completed and put into technical operation before April 30, 2025.

For component project 4, investors have been selected to implement 6/6 priority investment items including 2 catering areas, 2 areas for handling aircraft hygiene and maintaining ground service vehicles, and 2 aircraft maintenance areas (hangars 1 and 4).

Regarding the progress of the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway project, up to now, the 19.5 km long expressway section through Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has completed site clearance, the construction volume has reached 85% and is expected to open to traffic on April 30, 2025.

Meanwhile, the construction progress of the two component projects through Dong Nai province is still slow. Specifically, the 16 km long component project 1 through Bien Hoa city has cleared more than 82% of the site and the construction progress has reached 22%. The 18.2 km long component project 2 through Long Thanh district has handed over more than 94% of the site, with the construction progress reaching 33%.

In addition, the T1 and T2 traffic routes connecting to Long Thanh airport are also being accelerated. Currently, the implemented output has reached nearly 76%. According to the plan, route T1 is expected to be technically open to traffic on April 30, 2025, and route T2 will be completed in July 2025. All intersections will be completed, accepted and put into use from September 2, 2025, about three months ahead of schedule.

Source: VnEconomy