Construction of Sino-Thai rail tracks set to begin by end of 2016

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) - The construction of a new railway under a Sino-Thai cooperation pact is expected to be launched by the end of this year. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told journalists of the update on Wednesday, after chairing the 14th meeting of a joint committee in charge of the Sino-Thai rail cooperation in Bangkok earlier in the day. Arkhom said the meeting discussed three main issues in details, including those on the content of both sides' draft contract, bidding documents and joint operational plans under the project. According to the Thai minister, the draft agreement should be finalised by the end of next month, followed by a bidding contest a month later for a winning sub-contractor to start the construction of a 3.5-kilometre rail section under the project by the end of this year. (TNA)