Thai government to set up new independent agency for high-speed train management

BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Transport, plans to establish a new independent agency tasked with the management of high-speed train projects that are jointly developed between Bangkok and Beijing. Deputy Transport Minister Pairin Chuchotethavorn told journalists of the plan on June 20, after his ministry's meeting with other relevant public and private parties to exchange ideas and discuss the management of the Sino-Thai high speed train projects. Pairin said he believed the new independent agency, as proposed by financial institutes and agreed at Wednesday's meeting, could be established by the end of this year. Based on the plan, a panel, comprising of Thai Transport Ministry officials and representatives of other relevant parties, is scheduled to hold a new meeting over the next 2-3 weeks before a conclusion will be announced on what financial institute will be selected to work out, as a consulting party with no financial reward, an operational and management blueprint of the newly-set up independent agency together with the Ministry of Transport. (TNA)