Kroomanit Sangpoom, the committee chairman and Pheu Thai MP for Surin, said on Tuesday (Oct 22) that panel members visited the Andaman International Airport project site in Khok Kloi and Lo Yung subdistricts of Takua Thung district last Saturday (Oct 19).
The purpose of the visit was to inspect the progress of land restitution and development of transportation infrastructure.
He said the project, which will boost local income, is progressing well. Related agencies and sectors have agreed to set up a special subcommittee to study the airport’s investment value and public impact, reports the Bangkok Post.
Anucha Burapachaisri, one of the committee members, posted on his social media that the committee had discussed the issue with relevant sectors, including Airports of Thailand (AoT), Department of Highways, Department of Rural Roads and the local land office during the inspection.
The airport project, which covers 7,300 rai of land, will have two runways, 44 aircraft docking bays and capacity to accommodate 43 flights per hour, and ultimately the capacity to accommodate 22.5 million passengers per year, he said.
According to Mr Anucha, the project was originally planned for the Khlong Thung Maphrao reserved forest area in Thai Muang district, which raised concerns among conservationists. Thus, the project site was relocated to Takua Thung district.
In September, the Airports of Thailand signed a B20-million contract with a consultant company to conduct a six-month preliminary feasibility study of the project.
The study covers economic, transportation, environmental, social and community aspects of the project.
The detail and design process will begin after the studies of an Initial Environmental Impact (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have concluded.
Mr Anucha explained that Andaman International Airport will serve as an extension of Phuket International Airport, which is now reaching full capacity.
The project was initially touted as costing more than B70 billion (more than US$2.073bn).