BANGKOK, Aug 31 – The Transport Ministry on Thursday concluded a Bt1.9-trillion plan for the development of Thailand’s transport infrastructure system to cope with the country’s future growth to the year 2020.
Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said the plan includes transport development projects to be readied for when the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community takes effect.
Government agencies concerned have been instructed to submit details of their respective projects to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning for consolidation.
There may be some slight changes but the major projects will be the same, he said.
The infrastructure investment will include various categories including road transport at Bt479 billion for the third ring road, rail transport at Bt1.28 trillion for dual-track rails and mass transit rail links, Bt128 billion for dams on the Chao Phraya and Nan rivers, and for deep sea ports and air transport, Bt83.9 billion for the second phase of Suvarnabhumi Airport expansion, the construction of the third runway and infrastructure development for aerial service system.
By 2020, the cost of goods transport will remain less than two baht/kilometre–Bt1.8699/km but possibly increasing to Bt1.9949/km–if no investment is made infrastructure development, he said.
The investment will boost Thailand’s overall transport capability from Bt700 million tonnes a year to Bt900 million tonnes a year, he concluded.
