UDON THANI, 18 February 2013 The Ministry of Transport has invited public participation in a meeting that allows stake holders in the planned construction of a high speed rail between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima to air their views on likely impacts from the project to their daily life.
The meeting, organized by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning of the Ministry of Transport, is the fourth in a series after similar hearings were conducted in Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima.
Those attending the meeting included local administrators, members of the private sector, educational institutions and people living in the areas to be affected by the rail construction. They were divided into groups, and their opinions would be compiled for use in the improvement of the project to ensure maximum benefits to the people when it is built.
The hi-speed train project is developed to improve and enhance transportation systems in the four parts of the country. It is also expected to encourage manufacturers to set up their production bases along the rail routes.
The Cabinet last year gave nod to the construction of 4 high-speed railways between Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok-Hua Hin and between Suvarnabhumi Aiport and Pattaya. The high speed trains are expected to help reduce traffic congestion, road accidents and the cost of energy as they are running on electricity. It is expected that the project will save energy cost in the transport sector by at least 6 billion baht per year.
