ID :
12844
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 19:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/12844
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Thailand seeks Japanese loans to fund mass transit rail projects
TOKYO, July 17 (TNA) - Visiting Thai Transport Minister Santi Prompat on Thursday met with Japanese Minister of Land Infrastructure and Transportation Tetsuzo Fuyushiba and requested the Japanese government to speedily grant loans to fund the Thai capital's mass transit rail system, designed for easing traffic and moving more passengers in the Bangkok metropolitan region.
Mr. Santi, now on a one-week visit here, will ask the Japanese government and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to accelerate consideration of Bangkok's nine mass transit rail projects and grant loans to the Thai government within three months instead of waiting at least six or seven months.
If approved, the loans will be first applied to construction of the so-called red route from Rangsit in Pathum Thani province to Bang Sue on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, and on the blue route from Hua Lampong railway station, passing through Bang Sue and Bang Kae to Ta Pra in Thonburi, Mr. Santi said.
He said the Japanese government had promised to complete consideration of theThai government's loan requests by the end of this month.
Mr. Santi later presided at a seminar where he gave details on the nine integrated mass transit rail systems to Japanese investors, informing them that once the systems are completed, metropolitan Bangkok will have between 300-500 carriages and maintenance centres will be needed.
He said the rail system is necessary for Thailand as it could help save oil expenses of between Bt250-300 billion annually and simultaneously help solve the Thai capital's traffic problem.
Thailand expects to receive about Bt80 billion in loans from JBIC, while total costs for the government's mega projects, including dual railway tracks and other significant projects, amount to Bt1.75 trillion.
Of the total expected funding, 40 per cent would come from loans of which 21 per cent would be from domestic financial institutions and the remaining 19 per cent from external loans. (
Mr. Santi, now on a one-week visit here, will ask the Japanese government and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to accelerate consideration of Bangkok's nine mass transit rail projects and grant loans to the Thai government within three months instead of waiting at least six or seven months.
If approved, the loans will be first applied to construction of the so-called red route from Rangsit in Pathum Thani province to Bang Sue on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, and on the blue route from Hua Lampong railway station, passing through Bang Sue and Bang Kae to Ta Pra in Thonburi, Mr. Santi said.
He said the Japanese government had promised to complete consideration of theThai government's loan requests by the end of this month.
Mr. Santi later presided at a seminar where he gave details on the nine integrated mass transit rail systems to Japanese investors, informing them that once the systems are completed, metropolitan Bangkok will have between 300-500 carriages and maintenance centres will be needed.
He said the rail system is necessary for Thailand as it could help save oil expenses of between Bt250-300 billion annually and simultaneously help solve the Thai capital's traffic problem.
Thailand expects to receive about Bt80 billion in loans from JBIC, while total costs for the government's mega projects, including dual railway tracks and other significant projects, amount to Bt1.75 trillion.
Of the total expected funding, 40 per cent would come from loans of which 21 per cent would be from domestic financial institutions and the remaining 19 per cent from external loans. (
