Thailand to proceed mega-transport projects

BANGKOK, June 23 (TNA) - Thailand's army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is considering implementing mega-transport projects in the 2015 fiscal year, starting from October 1, 2014. An NCPO delegation, led by Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, who supervises economic affairs, considered the mega-transport projects at a meeting with Transport Ministry senior officials, including Permanent Secretary for Transport Somchai Siriwatanachoke, held in Bangkok on Monday morning. Initially, it is expected that the Ministry of Transport will seek a state budget of about 300 billion baht in the 2015 fiscal year to fund the new mega-projects, including those related to state enterprises. About 60-70 per cent of the budget will reportedly be for fixed expenses and the rest will be for investment projects, urgent of which include the expansion of main national highways to facilitate traffic flows and boost road safety. Another project is land expropriation for the construction of double-track railways sponsored by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). From 2015-2022, the Ministry of Transport reportedly plans to implement railway and public transit projects in Bangkok and nearby provinces, as well as road, water and air transport projects. (TNA)