NCPO to consider mega-transport projects

BANGKOK, June 13 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Transport will propose to the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) next week for its consideration on new mega-transport projects, totally worth about 3 trillion baht. Permanent Secretary for Transport Somchai Siriwatanachoke told journalists on Friday that his ministry has prepared information on the strategic projects to further develop Thailand's infrastructure in the transport sector and will submit the proposed projects to Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Prachin Chantong, in his capacity as an NCPO chief who oversees economic affairs, at a meeting on June 19 for his consideration. Somchai acknowledged that most of the proposed projects, set to be implemented from 2015–2022, remain unchanged from those earlier planned by the previous government of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but the new ones include proposed air transport development projects, boosting the proposed investment budget to total about 3 trillion baht, from 2.2 trillion baht set by the Yingluck administration. The senior official elaborated that the proposed projects include the urgent construction of five dual railway tracks and three new routes, the improvement of public transport systems in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, the construction of inter-provincial roads to link with motorways, the building of harbours and dykes and the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Muang Airport. However, according to the senior official, sources of the investment fund will be later discussed with the Ministry of Finance. (TNA)