Government eyes new transport projects in Thai North

BANGKOK, January 14 (TNA) - Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says he will propose to a mobile meeting of the Thai Cabinet on Sunday, an over 10-billion-baht plan on new public transport development projects in the country's northern resort Chiang Mai Province. Surapong said that the new plan, involving upgrading local public buses and enhancing rail mass transit system in downtown areas, is mainly aimed to further boost Chiang Mai's tourism sector. Surapong underscored that it is now considered the right time for Chiang Mai, now internationally-proclaimed Thailand's northern tourism hub, to concretely develop local tourism sector, through the new public transport plan and other relevant projects. Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, meanwhile, said his ministry will then encourage operators of public buses in Chiang Mai to turn to use natural gas for vehicles (NGV), instead of gasoline, to cut the country’s energy costs and to protect the environment. (TNA)