Construction ready for take-off at Aviation City


Building will begin this year on Aviation City, an aerospace industrial zone planned around U-Tapao International Airport that policymakers believe will accelerate Thailand’s goal of becoming a premier aviation hub, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Tipanan Sirichana.
 
The project, a public-private partnership, will generate over 15,000 jobs in the first years, drive growth in the aviation industry and serve as a centerpiece of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the three-province advanced industrial zone adjacent to Bangkok, added Tipanan.
 
The cost of construction for the 2,750-acre Aviation City and its related infrastructure is estimated at $8.8 billion. The city will include a free trade zone for commodities, a flight training center and an aircraft maintenance center.
 
U-Tapao has been rebuilt into and international airport at the heart of EEC to link up with two sister international airports in Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi, the Kingdom’s main gateway, and Don Muang.
 
These three airports will be connected by high-speed rail. Construction of that rail line will also begin this year and is expected to be completed by 2029. The cost is projected to be $6.8 billion for the system that will span five provinces with nine stations.
 
“Apart from linking the three airports and serving as major infrastructure for the EEC, the high-speed railway is intended to attract more foreign investment and create about 100,000 jobs in the industrial sector. There will be smart cities along the rail route, which can be further connected with other parts of the region,” Tipanan said.
Photo courtesy of https://www.eeco.or.th/