Lawmakers slam tardy Long Thanh airport construction

Since land acquisition was supposed to be completed in 2021, the government treasury stopped disbursing funds for it at the end of 2021, and Dong Nai Province had to make the payments instead and relocate residents, which caused delays, the National Assembly’s Economic Committee said in a recent review of the project.

Many landowners have complained about delays in payment and lack of infrastructure such as markets and schools in relocation areas.

So far 98.7% of the land needed has been acquired, and around 285 households are awaiting approval for their relocation.

The government needs to announce policies to speed up disbursement and reduce the impacts of land price appreciation, the economi commitee demanded.

Long Thanh International Airport has an estimated cost of VND336.63 trillion (US$13.7 billion) and a designed capacity of 100 million passengers annually.

Its first phase, with a capacity of 25 million passengers, is scheduled to be completed by 2025.