Thailand to invest Bt1.94t on new transport networks

BANGKOK, October 10 (TNA) - The Thai government plans to invest about 1.94 trillion baht in new transport development projects from 2016-2025, aimed at strengthening the national economy and gaining maximum benefit from the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), set to be formed by the end of 2015. Thai Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong announced the plan when he opened a public forum in Bangkok on Friday to seek people's opinions on the development of national transport systems. Air Chief Marshal Prajin told the forum that Thailand's interim government has given importance on further developing transport systems in the country, particularly mass rail transit systems. Air Chief Marshal Prajin pointed out that the expansion of transport networks, covering train services between cities, will help ease traffic problems in Bangkok and its outlying areas, upgrade local highways which will connect with neighbouring countries, improve water transport, boost air transport services with neighbouring countries and further develop the Laem Chabang deep-sea port and major Thai airports. According to the transport minister, the Thai government has also mapped out urgent projects from 2014-2015, including expanding six mass rail transit lines, developing major roads connecting between major cities with Bangkok and outlying areas, and constructing double-track rail systems with the speed of 160 kilometres per hour. Upon the completion of the six mass rail transit lines, the transport minister assessed, the number of electric train services should be increased to 800 daily, from 288 now.(TNA)