Cabinet approves Bt100 billion hi-speed rail construction plan

BANGKOK, Nov 11 (TNA) – Thailand’s economic ministers meeting approved an investment plan to build a high-speed railway with a Bt100 billion budget for four main routes linking the Thai capital to the country’s four regions.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, four routes will depart from Bangkok to the northern province of Chiang Mai (745km), to Nong Khai on the Mekong River in the northeast (615km), to the eastern province of Chanthaburi (330km), and to Padang Besar on the Thai-Malaysian border in Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla (985km).

Mr Korbsak said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted to first build the short eastern route, for it would take less time to execute the work than constructing a long route to begin with.

Transport Ministry was assigned to study a clear investment plan and to report its result within 45 days to propose to the Cabinet so that a decision could be made regarding the investment plan before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Finance will seek lenders for investment funds, particularly China, which had proposed a US$400-million loan to Thailand.

However, the government wants the private sector to co-invest in the project as in a public-private partnerships (PPP) venture.

The economic ministers meeting also acknowledged a plan to establish a sub-company to run Bangkok’s Airport Link, while a special unit would be set up to manage the rail system, assets, and the mechanical team. (TNA)