The Ministry of Transport on March 21 asked the Government for approval to use VND4.2 trillion (US$181 million) from the budget of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to upgrade runways at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC, the local media reported.

The 25R/07L runway at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC

Runways at airports are State assets, so the capital for upgrading them must be sourced from the State budget. However, the ministry proposed using ACV’s budget since the State budget is already under pressure.

The State will later reimburse the ACV.

In the middle of last year, ACV proposed the Ministry of Transport repair the 25R/07L runway at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the 1B runway at Noi Bai International Airport, as these runways have become seriously deteriorated, with cracks and subsidence appearing on their surfaces.

Some parts of the 1B runway are often muddy during the rainy season, posing a high risk for planes.

The Ministry of Transport also plans to use ACV’s budget to upgrade the wastewater drainage systems and taxiways at the two airports.

SGT