US-led consortium Murphy-Jahn Tams/Act, architects of Thailand's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, has submitted a modified design of the passenger terminal building to the New Bangkok International Airport (NBIA) Board.

The modified design is likely to cut the terminal's construction cost by 10 billion baht ($220 million) to a level well within the government's 45-billion baht ($990 million) budget and reduce time spent on construction.

''Awarding the contract and the official signing ceremony will occur this year. We are confident the new airport will be completed in late 2004 as planned,' Srisook Chand-rangsu, the Thai transport permanent secretary said

He said the NBIA would allow the nine bidders who tendered on the old design last September to submit new bids for the project.

The new design should reduce costs because 80 per cent of construction materials would be supplied locally.

Transport Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha said that pile-driving for the terminal's construction should start shortly after the modified design has been evaluated.