Transport minister targets to turn Thailand into ASEAN metropolis

BANGKOK, April 29 (TNA) -- Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the ministry plans to improve domestic transport system in a bid to prepare Thailand as an ASEAN metropolis. The minister, during his special public speech, said the government is hurriedly pushing forward with infrastructure development on logistics and transportation, to ensure that Thailand is set to become a metropolis within the ASEAN region. He said the plan for the country to become metropolis is designed under the 8-year-plan of ministry or until 2022, where the ministry would not push for approvals from the current government of the construction of 10 more lines of BTS sky train. For railways, the ministry has planned to push for six more routes for dual-track trains, as well as to further develop the high speed train system to link Bangkok with the southern Nakhon Ratchasima province. For water transport, the ministry has planned to implement measures that would help for an all-year-round logistics on the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers, along with improving the quality of public piers, connecting boat transportation with other kinds of public transport to allow more convenience in traveling around the city for people and tourists. Moreover, the ministry has worked out plans to develop deep sea ports. The minister said the U-Tapao airport would be turned into the country's third commercial airport, where a new airport has also been planned to be constructed at the Betong district of Yala province to help improve the economy, politics, and stability of the three southernmost provinces. (TNA)