"Bangkok Airport Will Open On Time Despite Delays -Thai PM"

Thursday, August 5, 2004

Bangkok Airport Will Open On Time Despite Delays -Thai PM
Japan - Nihon Keizai Shimbun


BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Thursday he
believes that Bangkok's new international airport will open on schedule
at the end of September 2005, even though construction work has fallen
behind schedule.

The government said earlier this week that construction of the new
THB125 billion ($1=THB41.5) airport, about 15 miles east of the capital,
is 7-8% behind schedule. The government said last month that more than
50% of the construction work had been completed

"If all parties involved get serious about it, I believe that the new
airport can still be opened on schedule," Thaksin told reporters. "It's
unlikely that we'll have to delay the opening."

"However, we have to ensure the safety of all systems and if there must
be any delay, it can't be long," he said.

Delays in the construction process have put major contractors for the
airport project, including local company Italian-Thai Development, under
pressure from the government, which has threatened to bar them from
bidding on the future megaprojects if they fail to meet deadlines

Italian-Thai (ITD.TH) said Wednesday that all its construction
responsibilities will be completed on schedule by June 2005, allowing a
three-month testing period before the official opening.

Italian-Thai, together with Japanese partners Takenaka Corp. (TNA.YY)
and Obayashi Corp. (1802.TO), were awarded the contract to build the
passenger terminal and concourse buildings of the airport.

Last month, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said if the joint
venture responsible for construction fails to complete its task by June
2005 as planned, it will be fined THB5 million for each day it falls
behind.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************