“Thaworn” pushes for the construction of new regional airports, planning to launch 7 more by the end of this year, proposing Nakhon Pathom Airport to the Cabinet with a budget of 5 billion for Mukdahan Airport, while Phayao and Kalasin are seeking budget support for 2021 and initiating feasibility studies.

 

Mr. Thaworn Senneam, Deputy Minister of Transport, revealed his achievements over the past year as the overseer of the Department of Airports (DOA), stating that he has pushed forward all projects under the 10-year plan (2015 - 2024) with an investment budget of over 36.634 billion baht to meet public demand and national strategies. In 2019 - 2020, the DOA utilized a total budget of over 14 billion baht to invest in the development of new airports and enhance the capacity of 29 airports under its supervision.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the DOA was allocated a budget of 5.8 billion baht to continue developing regional airports, such as Krabi Airport, which has a committed budget of approximately 6 billion baht from 2019 to 2021 for the construction of a new passenger terminal (Terminal 3) and the renovation of Terminals 1 and 2, as well as the construction of a parking area to accommodate larger aircraft. Currently, construction is progressing significantly and is expected to be completed in 2022.

However, to address the strategy of distributing prosperity to the regions, he is also pushing for the DOA to proceed with the construction of new commercial airports in provinces that currently lack airports, to connect with the main airports of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. It is known that the DOA has plans to develop 7 new airports, including Phatthalung, Satun, Bueng Kan, Mukdahan, Phayao, Kalasin, and Nakhon Pathom.

Mr. Thaworn also mentioned that Nakhon Pathom Airport has made significant progress, with the feasibility study completed and currently under consideration for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). If approved, it will proceed to the Ministry of Transport for consideration before being presented to the Cabinet for approval by the end of this year.

At the same time, the Mukdahan Airport project is also progressing, with the DOA having completed the feasibility study. The proposed construction site is located in Kham Phalai sub-district, approximately 15 kilometers from Mukdahan city. The investment is expected to be around 4 to 5 billion baht, and the DOA is currently preparing to present this to the Ministry of Transport.

As for the new airports in Phatthalung, Satun, and Bueng Kan, feasibility studies are currently underway, while the DOA is seeking budget support for Phayao and Kalasin in 2021 to begin feasibility studies for project development.

SOURCE : www.bangkokbiznews.com