Japan helps build road to Dawei industrial estates

BANGKOK, Feb 27 (TNA) -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has helped in conducting a feasibility study on extending the road linking between Ban Phu Nam Ron in Kanchanaburi province to Dawei economic zone development in Myanmar, said Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittyapaisith. JICA has given the assistance after a previous study prepared by Italian-Thai Development Company (ITD) showed difficulty for heavy trucks to use due to steepen, said Mr Arkhom. JICA officials along with Highways Department authorities then inspected the planned route and agreed that part of the road, especially near a mountain, seven additional tunnels will have to be built, he said. More loans may have to be borrowed from Japan for the construction costs of the tunnels, said Mr Arkhom. He said a “special purpose vehicle” agency has been established and its investment procedures would complete soon. (TNA)