The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers of National Defense, Transport, Construction, Natural Resources and Environment and the Government Office.
Replying to press questions after the meeting, chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said that the Prime Minister recorded and appreciated opinions from National Assembly deputies and voters, scientists, press agencies and the Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee about the expansion of the airport.
At the meeting, the permanent government listened to the Ministry of National Defense and aviation consultant firms’ reports about matters relating to the airport’s expansion.
Basing on the reports, the PM tasked the Ministry of Transport to hire foreign consultant companies who will work independently to estimate and survey the enlargement of the airport to ensure objectivity, honesty, investment and land use efficiency. The ministry should report results to the permanent government at the end of this year.
The PM required the Ministry of National Defense to stop construction of auxiliary works of the golf course in the airport's area such as golf school, villas and high class apartment block to wait for opinions from consultant companies and scientists.
The Ministry of National Defense said it was willing to hand over national defense land for the expansion of Tan Son Nhat Airport.
The Government will calculate projects to expand the airport quickly, safely, efficiently with low cost to reduce the current overloading and congestion at the airport, Mr. Tien Dung affirmed.
The Prime Minister has required to speed up the progress of Long Thanh International Airport while expanding Tan Son Nhat Airport, meaning the Tan Son Nhat expansion does not influence Long Thanh Airport. Once Long Thanh Airport comes into operation, Tan Son Nhat will still operate as normal.
