Thailand's construction of new dual-track project to start in mid-2016

BANGKOK, December 3 (TNA) - The construction of a new Sino-Thai dual-track project is expected to start in May 2016 as earlier planned. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittyapaisith told journalists that a new round of a meeting between concerned officials of both countries, the 9th of its kind, started on December 3 and participants in the meeting would be informed of the outcome of a study of designs and details of the project. Arkhom said before the two-day meeting that participants would also be briefed on the phase 2 of the construction, between Kaeng Khoi in the central Saraburi Province and Map Ta Phut in the eastern Rayong Province, and the fourth phase of the rail construction, between the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima and the northeastern Nong Khai Province. Besides, the Thai side would check whether the result of the study is accurate and it is expected that the construction budget would be discussed by February 2016 if no amendment was made. According to the Thai transport minister, the interest rate of loans to fund the project, to be provided by China, will be discussed after surveys of the project is complete. The transport minister revealed that concerned officials were scheduled to inspect the area, where the ground-breaking ceremony of the project is to be held, at the Chiang Rak Noi railway station on Thursday afternoon, before the official ceremony will be held on December 19. The officials of both countries would later sign three memoranda of understanding (MOUs), after returning to Bangkok, including the Sino-Thai dual-track railway project and two other deals in which China has agreed to buy rice and rubber from Thailand. (TNA)