Highways Department prepares Thai-Chinese railway construction sites

BANGKOK, Jan 19 (TNA) -- The Highways Department has cleared about 50% of land where the first section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project will be constructed. Thanin Somboon, director-general of the Highways Department, said the State Railway of Thailand contracted the Highways Department to prepare construction areas for the first 3.5-kilometre-long section of the railway project between Klang Dong and Pang Asok train stations in Nakhon Ratchasima province and the work was about 50% completed. The work included the construction of residential and office buildings for workers. The Highways Department was proceeding with the task smoothly because of its readiness in terms of personnel, specialists and machines. The work would be completed as scheduled, Mr Thanin said. Besides, he said he expected engineers of the Highways Department to learn technologies and knowledge from their Chinese counterparts who would arrive for the railway construction. He also ordered highway officials to maximise the use of local materials in the railway project and others. (TNA)