Plan for "Aerotropolis" proposed

Modern city to go up around new airport

An airport city will take shape in the area surrounding the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport , which is scheduled to open in September 2005.

The development of the so-called Aerotropolis well involve investments totaling 135 billion baht over 30 years under a proposal from consultants hired by the The National Economic Social Development Board (NESDB).

The City is designed to accommodate financial and commercial services including retail and entertainment businesses in order to attract industry and help Suvarnabhumi compete with other international airports in the region, as well as generate additional substantial revenues to the new airport.

Asian Engineering Consultant and Team Consulting Engineering and Management Co were responsible for the Suvarnabhumi Aerotrpolis Development Plan, which was approved by the cabinet as a cluster for airport-linked projects, according to Suwat Wanisubut, the deputy director of the NESDB' s Suvarnabhumi Airport development committee.

The site covers 58,900 rai and includes industrial, commercial and green zones including public parks together with various infrastructure and facility development projects.

The Devlopment wil start in 2006 under the supervision of the yet -to -be-established Aerotropolis Development Committee.

Most of the Budget is earmarked for transportation facilities and infrastructure, with an allotment of 60.3 billion baht, followed by a 56.4 billion baht budget earmarked for a flood prevention system.

The transport component includes infrastructure such as an expressway to link Bangkok with the airport and a mass transit system to transfer passengers to the inner city.

Mr. Suwat said commercial and industrial sites would be developed for specific industries that face intense competition in overseas markets and have time sensitive logistics needs requiring proximity to the airport.

"Industries that are extremely time sensitive should be very close to the airport, in particular those that sell fresh products such as flowers, seafood, pharmaceuticals, fashion goods and aircraft parts," he said.

According to the Kenan Institute,42% of world trade in value terms is done through air transport.

Traffic is expected to triple Over the next two decades.

Mr. Suwat said that in the future, airports would be commerce centers and that the competitiveness of any county would be measured by the efficiency of its airports.

Suvarnabhumi is deigned to be a world-class international airport on par with Incheon International Airport in South Korea and airports in big cities of the United States , he said.

The Town and Country Planning Department is now working on standardized blueprints to make sure that none of the planned buildings at the Aerotropolis site would interfere with aviation operations.

Thailand 's new international airport is expected to accommodate up to 45 with about 30 million serviced by Don Muang airport.

The NESDB expects that the operation of the Suvarnabhumi Airport well Sub stantially boost the economies of the 17 provinces within a 100 km-radius of the airport.

The total member of residents in these provinces is also expected to rise considerably from 17.39 million next year.

In 30 yesrs, the figure is expected to reach 24.16 million.