Hanoi (VNA) – The assessment of the Sa Pa airportproject proposed by the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has receivedthe authorities’ nod to kick off.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has assigned theMinistry of Planning and Investment to assess the project and make relevantsubmission to the Prime Minister for his decision on investment policy.
In 2018, Lao Cai proposed building an airport in Sa Paresort town at a total cost of nearly 5.8 trillion VND (252 million USD) to theMinistry of Transport.
Covering 371ha in Cam Con commune, Bao Yen district, the joint-useairport will be built in association with a runway and a two-lane road linkingto the Noi Bai – Lao highway route. The entire project will last for 50 years,with the construction phase spanning four years under a public-privatepartnership.
According to a PM-approved aviation transport planning until2020 with a vision toward 2030, the airport, once completed, will be capable ofserving 3 million passengers per year.
Located on the economic corridor of Kunming – Lao Cai –Hanoi – Hai Phong, Lao Cai is an economic belt based on trade development amongprovinces in Southwest China.
Currently, the province’s transport system incorporates onlyroads and railways. Therefore, an airport is viewed as crucial to improve localtransport network, creating new engine for the development of Lao Cai and thenorthwest mountainous region at large./.