Third And Fourth Runways Needed Sooner : Pm

[george]

PM says third and fourth runways needed sooner

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants work to begin on the construction of the third and fourth runways at Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is set to open in 2005.

The prime minister made the comment yesterday at the signing of an agreement for the construction of the airport's passenger terminal between ITO Joint Venture and New Bangkok International Airport Co (NBIA).

The new airport project, which initially had a budget of 88 billion baht, has received another 14 billion to expand the runways and for other facilities to accommodate more passengers.

Mr Thaksin said NBIA should proceed with construction of the third and forth runways with funds from the existing budget, which has not been used up yet, before waiting for the next allocation.

The original plan called for work on the third and fourth runways to begin 18 months after the airport became operational, with a cost of 15 billion baht. Completion was scheduled for 2009.

But, the volume of airline passengers in Thailand, particularly tourists, is expected to double in the next five years, making it necessary to speed up the construction of additional runways.

At the ceremony, Mr Thaksin confirmed that the airport would open on Sept 29, 2005, as previously scheduled.

``Now, the possibility that the airport will not be completed on schedule should be ruled out. I'm ready to back up all parties to solve obstacles hindering the project,'' he said.

More x-ray machines and other security-related equipment will be procured earlier than scheduled due to the expected increased capacity, and an underground railway will also be built to link central Bangkok with the airport.

Under the pact signed yesterday, ITO Joint Venture has agreed to speed up the construction of the airport.

Premchai Karnasuta. president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, a partner in ITO Joint Venture, said that accelerating construction and the new design of the terminal would increase its operating costs for the project.

``We will discuss with NBIA if payments for the project will be raised,'' he said.

--The Post 2003-12-18