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Taoyuan military airport may be part of aerotropolis plan

ROC Central News Agency

2009-01-08 13:12:37

By Y.F. Low

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) unveiled Wednesday a plan to use the Taoyuan military airport as a joint resource to facilitate a project to develop an aerotropolis in Taoyuan County.

Under the plan, the military would reserve 251 hectares of the airport's premises for military purposes while releasing 175 hectares of land in the southern part of the complex for the development of the aerotropolis project, said Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min.

Chen said the ministry came up with the plan based on the example of Singapore's Changi Airport and will continue to communicate with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Taoyuan County Government on related details.

The plan to develop the surrounding areas of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport into an aerotropolis was one of President Ma Ying-jeou's campaign promises.

The project would involve the expansion of airport terminals and the establishment of an aerospace industrial park and special zones for cargo, passenger and logistic services.

Chang Hsin-fu, deputy director of Taoyuan County's Transportation Department, said the MND's plan to release part of the Taoyuan military airport's premises for civil use is expected to ease the restrictions on land development in the vicinity and help boost property prices.

The plan would also expand the hinterland of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and facilitate a metro service that would connect the airport to downtown Taoyuan, he said.