Thailand gets into gear with 234 billion baht road investment

The Ministry of Transport got into gear yesterday and agreed to invest in five road construction projects worth about 234 billion baht to make life easier for Thailand’s car owners.

The Ministry of Transport signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Highways (DH), Department of Rural Roads (DRR), and Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat), to oversee the first of five, out of 19, future road construction project plans.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob reported that cooperation by all four departments will improve the efficiency and speed of the projects.

“The first project to be managed under the new system will be the construction of a motorway stretching 30 kilometres from Muang Mai to Kathu in Phuket at a cost of 30.4 billion baht.

“Initially studied and designed by the DH to run between Muang Mai and Koh Kaeo, the new plan will see Exat take over the project and extend the new highway to reach Kathu and Patong.

“The second in the batch is a new 20 kilometres elevated highway called Highway No.305 (Pathum Thani-Rangsit-Ongkharak) that requires 38.5 billion baht in funding.

“Initiated by the DH, this project is also to be taken over by Exat which will merge it with the Udon Ratthaya-Pathum Thani expressway network.

“The third is a plan to construct an 18 kilometres elevated motorway connecting Srinakarin Road with Suvarnabhumi Airport, which requires 43.1 billion baht of funding.

“Studied and designed by the DH, the project will also be taken over by Exat as will a 96.6-billion-baht network of river flyovers and roads to connect Samut Sakhon with Samut Prakan.

“Initiated by the DRR, this transport network has a combined length of 72 kilometres.

“The last of the initial batch will be a bridge to connect Koh Samui in Surat Thani with Khanom district in Nakhon Si Thammarat at a cost of 25 billion baht. The implementation of the 17 kilometres bridge will be taken over by Exat to pursue public-private partnership investment.”

Saksayam revealed the funds to finance these projects will be raised through the Thailand Future Fund, adding that the department will also generate income from abroad by leasing out commercial spaces.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post