CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Development progress report)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development and Communications whether he will give a progress report on the development of Changi International Airport which has been targetted for completion by 1980.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, Members must have read of the progress made in connection with the development of Changi Airport in the daily papers from time to time. However, I will just give a summary of the progress made so far.

Earthworks on the first runway started about two years ago. Presently, work on the extension of the first runway is ahead of schedule and the whole runway should be completed by December 1979. Reclamation of the land for the second runway with fill dredged from the sea-bed, started in early May 1976. By working continuously throughout the period, the five dredges deployed in the reclamation work have nearly completed the reclamation of the land for the second runway. Part of the site meant for the first passenger terminal building has already been reclaimed from the sea. Piling work for the passenger terminal has progressed steadily since early June this year.

Based on the present progress, we anticipate that the airport could begin operation in late 1980.