The infrastructure development budget will be trimmed to 2.4 trillion baht from the 3 trillion baht earlier proposed by the transport strategy committee after the high-speed train projects are certain to be put on ice.
Labourers work on a new building on Sukhumvit Road. The construction business is expected to be robust after state agencies propose a 2.4-trillion-baht infrastructure development plan for the junta's approval. PATIPAT JANTHONG
At the same time, three electric train lines in Greater Bangkok, motorways and a dual-track railway are set to proceed in fiscal 2015.
The proposal will on Thursday be forwarded to ACM Prajin Jantong, head of the National Council for Peace and Order’s economic team for deliberation, said Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning.
He was speaking after a meeting with relevant agencies including the Public Debt Management Office and the Budget Bureau about project funding.
The investment period for the megaprojects will run from next year to 2021.
He said the three electric train lines are the Orange Line from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri, the Pink Line from Kaerai to Min Buri and the Yellow Line from Lat Phrao to Samut Prakan.
The 2.4-trillion-baht investment plan will involve infrastructure development and water management projects, railways, aviation, roads and electric trains.
The latest investment plan appears to be higher than the 2-trillion-baht infrastructure plan initiated by the Pheu Thai Party-led government as it adds water and aviation. However, the high-speed train projects are expected to cost 800 billion baht will not be included in the massive investment plan.
Chatchawan Boonjaroenkit, director-general of the Highways Department, said his agency had requested a 30-billion-baht investment budget for next fiscal year.
The department has asked for 100 billion baht through 2021.
Road repairs, for Mittraphap and Phetkasem roads in particular, are priorities for the department, he said, adding that it had requested 20 billion baht to fix Phetkasem Road, with the route between Chumphon and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces badly damaged.
Another urgent investment is expanding to four-lane roads the routes between Tak town and Mae Sot at a cost of 2.8 billion baht; and between Prachin Buri’s Kabin Buri district and Korat’s Pak Thong Chai district at a cost of 3-4 billion baht.
Both projects will take a few years to complete.
He said roads along the banks of the Chao Phraya river are under a feasibility study.
The four-lane road, which may run from Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district to the mouth of the river, could also help to prevent floods in the capital, as the project would include building higher flood levees in addition to easing traffic congestion.