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Background/History
of the Project
By Pas Seangsong
Source: Asia Business Magazine, Asiaweek, the Nation,
Bangkok Post
Back to the SUVANABHUMI
AIRPORT main page
Bangkok's long delayed second international
airport is frequently cited as a classic example of Thailand's poor
track record of economic planning and management for large infrastructure
projects. The second airport project has been bogged down for the past
three decades particularly as a result of endless political inference.
The project's completion has passed through two initial deadlines, the
first in 1990 and the second in 2000.
Previous governments have already invested
considerable resources to expand the existing Don Muang Airport to cope
with growing traffic volume. Don Muang has already reached its full
capacity at 30 million passengers per annum. What is at stake is not
just another high profile infrastructure project, but Thailand's chance
of becoming the aviation hub for South East Asia.
Conceived in the 1960s
The New Bangkok International Airport or Suvanabhumi Airport as
it is now known, has been in planning since 1960 when the government
of the day commissioned a master plan for the 1990 Bangkok Metropolis.
The airport's site, Nong Ngu Hao - which translates as Cobra Swamp -
is well situated about 30 kilometers east of Bangkok in Samut Prakan
province. The government finalized the purchase of this boggy 3,100
hectare site in 1973. The project looked set to take off but came one
day short of being approved in 1973 when a popular student uprising
succeeded in overthrowing the government and the project has been shelved
indefinitely.
Revival in the 1990s
It was not until the early 1990s when the Thai government decided
to revive the project. The need for a new International Airport became
a national agenda with the release of the government's 5 year plan by
the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). In April
1991, premier Anand Panyarachun approved the Second Bangkok International
Airport (SBIA) and placed it under the control of the Airport Authority
of Thailand (AAT) - the state run enterprise that operates Don Muang
and other provincial airports in Thailand.
Already some 20 years behind schedule, the
airport has proven to be a major organizational challenge for Thailand
in the 1990s. The NESDB and AAT have however managed to push through
with several consultancy contracts. The Netherlands Airport Consultants
BV and Louis Berger (US) completed their master plan for SBIA in May
1993. Contracts have been subsequently awarded to designing systems
to control floodwater and ground improvement (the Nong Ngu Hao site
is notorious for its deep soft clay soil profile which need to be treated
in order to cope with the demands of Boeing 747s). Work on the dike
to prevent perennial flooding of the site was delayed to remove some
8,000 squatters.
Designing the terminal
In 1994, the government staged a major competition involving major
international consultants for the design of the airport terminal - perhaps
the most important contract for the airport project. The winning design
was from the MJTA group of consultant, comprising Murphy Jahn Architecture
and TAMS consultant (US) and ACT Engineering consultant (Thailand).
Keeping it Thai
MJTA's design of the new airport terminal consists mainly of a
large glass and concrete terminal. This design immediately attracted
criticism from architectural circles in Thailand for the apparent lack
of 'Thai characteristics' in the design. The government formed a special
committee to ensure that local cultural and artistic heritage was incorporated
into the design of the terminal. This committee was chaired by then
interior minister, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (who would later become
Prime Minister). A group of local architects also raised concern whether
the predominantly glass-clad structure was appropriate for Thailand's
intense tropical climate. They argued that air-conditioning costs would
be very expensive considering the will have a total floor area of 500,000
sqm. In order to minimize energy usage, the consultants proposed a huge
roof trellis to shade the terminal against the intense tropical sun.
The New Bangkok International Airport Company
In February 1996, under the Banharn Silpa-Archa government, the
New Bangkok International Airport Co was formed. This is a privately
managed and state-owned company attached to the Ministry of Transport
and Communications, that is responsible for the construction and operation
of the Second Bangkok International Airport.
More delays
When General Chavalit Yongchiyudh followed Banharn as Prime Minister
in 1996, he immediately called for the airport project to be shelved
for an indefinite period. It was later revealed that Gen Chavalit planned
to relocate the airport to the Bang Pu district in Samut Prakarn. This
policy switch was seen as damaging, especially to the foreign investor's
confidence. Allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement led
to Gen Chavalit's government being voted out of office in 1997 (a few
months after the floating and subsequent plunge of the Thai currency).
Renewal of the project
Construction of the airport resumed under the Democrat-led coalition
government with the project deadline extended to 2004. By this time,
the government was running out of money to finance the project although
it remained committed to push ahead for the country's long term economic
benefit.
Cost overruns
"The latest setback facing the Airport project stems from
the fact that all four bids to construct the passenger terminal and
the concourse complex are about Bt8 billion higher than the Bt45-billion
budget that has been allocated. In an attempt to bring the price down,
four measures were being taken. The airport’s designer Murphy Jahn
Consortium has been asked to modify the design to bring the price within
the Bt45-billion budget. For example, NBIA CO has called for the MJTA
to find ways to limit the import of construction materials to only 20%
from 64%. The government has also been asked to increase the budget.
And the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, which is providing
the Bt73-billion loan for construction work, has been asked for assistance."(Business
in Thailand magazine website, December, 2000)
Alternative designs & the waiting
game
Another alternative design of the passenger terminal, using a design-build
option, was proposed by SBIA's project management team, Pacific Consultants
(from Japan) who also made an estimation that the MJTA design would
cost 70% over budget. While the government still opted to use the MJTA
design and to open the bidding contest for engineering and construction
contracts, they are also running out of patience waiting for MJTA consultants
to adjust their design to lower construction costs.
Completion date
See the top of this page for the latest info on completion dates.
Airport Terminal Complex
Total Floor Area: 500,000 sqm (world's largest for a single terminal
complex - the roof trellis will also be the largest of its kind).
Capacity: 30 million passenger a year first phase (ability to
handle 76 flights per hour), The capacity would increased to 45-50 million
passenger per annum after second run way complete and buildings space
expand (by 2006). The airport will be expanded to its ultimate capacity
(all phase) by 2010 to handle 112 flights per hour and accommodating
100 million passengers each year. Ability to handle 1.46 million tons
of cargo per year Handling 51 aircraft stands and 24 remote parking
bays for wide-bodied aircraft.
"the facilities will consist of
four runways with twin passenger terminal building located both in the
north and south together with satellite buildings located between the
passenger terminal buildings."
Transport Connection
Highways are being built (connecting Bangkok's outer ring road?)
Mass transit link: the government proposed to extend the Skytrain from
Onnuj); SRT's highspeed rail project from Huay-Kwang to Lad Krabang
to Chonburi will have a spur line connecting the New Airport - the
project is off and on)
Stakeholders
Airport Authority of Thailand (provide 1/3 of funding); New Bangkok
International Airport Co. (responsible for managing construction) Thai
Ministry of Finance + Transport and Communications Ministry; The Japanese
Bank for International Cooperation - JBIC ; (responsible for 59% of
the project's finance) National Economic and Social Development Board
Major Contractors
Master planning - National Airports Consultants BV, Louis Berger
International General Engineering Consultants (GEC) responsible for
project design.
NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V.
Louis Berger International Inc.
Design 103 Ltd.
Asian Engineering Consultants Corp.,Ltd.
Index International for project design.
Team Consulting Engineers Co.,Ltd.
Management studies
Coopers & Lybrand (now Price Waterhouse Cooper)
Land fill, ground improvement / airside improvement
Ital-Thai Group, CH Karnchang
Airport Terminal design
MJTA Consultants, comprising Murphy Jahn - architecture, TAMS Consultant
and Act engineering consultant
Urban development around the airport
in the tendering process
Project Management Consultants Group (PMC)
Pacific Consultants International
Roge and Associates Co., Ltd
Epsilon Co., LTD
Asian Engineering Consultants Co., LTD
Pas Seangsong is webmaster of
Bangkok
Highrises.
You can visit his site by clicking the banner below.
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