Dong Nai (VNA) - The southern province of Dong Nai has asked the Governmentto allocate more than 400 billion VND (17.23 million USD) to build two roadsthat would connect the province's National Road No. 51 up to Long Thanh InternationalAirport, which is expected to start construction next year.

Speaking at a meeting with the National Assembly’s Economics Committee April 23,Tran Van Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee,said it is urgent to build the roads to provide access to the airport.

Bomb and mine clearance, which will cost 165billion VND, also needs to be completed on land that will be handed over toinvestors in the airport project, he said.

More than 20 households will have to live in temporary quarters and thenrelocate to a resettlement area.

Dong Nai is accelerating construction progress of two resettlement areas, Loc An-BinhSon (nearly 300ha) and Binh Son III (81ha), which are expected to beginconstruction in September.

The province has approved a project of more than 300 billion VND for vocationaltraining, job creation and resettlement for affected households in theprovince.

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho said Dong Nai province has conductedthe ground clearance work in a transparent manner. The construction of theconnecting roads to the airport should be done first, he said. 

In May, the Ministry of Transport will issue the final feasibility report forLong Thanh airport, which will include information about traffic systems aroundthe airport, according to Tho.

The Long Thanh airport will have a transport system linking to Ho Chi Minh Cityand other regions.

Vu Hong Thanh, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Economics Committee, saidthat Dong Nai province should pay attention to the employment, housing andeducation needs of workers.

As Long Thanh airport has great significance to the country’s development, theprovince should work closely with the central agencies to accelerate progress,he added.

The NA’s Economics Committee also asked the province to look for other capitalresources to avoid relying solely on the State budget.  

According to the provincial People’s Committee, Dong Nai collected nearly 12trillion VND worth of revenue in the first quarter of the year, up 16 percentyear-on-year. The province attracted foreign direct investment worth 500million USD, up nearly 27 percent compared to the same period last year. 

Once fully operational, the Long Thanh airport will reduce the load onneighbouring Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City.

It will be able to handle 100 million passengers and five million tonnes offreight each year.

Covering a total area of more than 5,580 hectares, the airport will be locatedin six communes in Long Thanh district in Dong Nai province. The airport’stotal investment is 336.63 trillion VND, with construction divided into threephases. - VNA