Thai-Chinese railway project to be accelerated

BANGKOK, June 17 (TNA) -- The government is confident that with the exercise of Article 44 of the Constitution, the construction of the first section of the Thai-Chinese railway project between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima will be accelerated. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said the Article 44 exercised by the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would resolve obstacles and the construction could start and be accelerated. The project implementation would sooner link Thailand to China’s One Belt One Road as the electric railways of Laos, Malaysia and Singapore were ready, he said. Mr Somkid did not think an interest rate issue would be significant in the project, saying local liquidity was enough. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpitayapaisith said the Article 44 would streamline procurement and the signing of a cooperation agreement in the project. The detailed design could be signed in July. China would supervise construction and investment in rails and signaling systems as the NCPO expected, he said. Chartchai Tipsunave, permanent secretary for transport, said China would be responsible for detailed design, construction supervision and the installation of train operating and signaling systems. Thailand would handle the construction of railway infrastructures which formed a majority cost, he said. Sixty Thai operational officials as well as academics would learn Chinese technologies in the project and China agreed in principle with the idea, he said. (TNA)