Thai Cabinet nods for underground power wires in big cities

BANGKOK, February 15 (TNA) - The Thai Cabinet has approved a budget of over 11 billion baht to relocate electricity wires underground in big cities as a pilot project in a bid to improve the country's scenery and tourism image. Vice Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Kobsak Pootrakool told journalists that the Cabinet made the decision at its weekly meeting on February 14. Kobsak said under the Cabinet's resolution, a state budget of about 11.67 billion baht will be allocated to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to relocate underground electricity wires in Muang Districts of the northern Chiang Mai and the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima Province, as well as the eastern resort Pattaya City and Hat Yai District of the southern Songkhla Province. Besides, new electricity relaying stations, both on the ground and underground, will be built to boost the efficiency of the country's electricity supply and to ease the problem of power blackout, apart from improving the local scenery for tourist attractions. According to the vice minister, the project on further basic infrastructure development will later be expanded to eight other big cities in Thailand in line with the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan 2017-2021. (TNA)