B3.5bn for repairs to flood-ravaged roads in South

B3.5bn for repairs to flood-ravaged roads in South

Villagers were left stranded when this bridge leading to Moo 9 in tambon Nareng in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Nop Phi Tham was destroyed during major flooding early this year. (Photo by Nucharee Rakrun)
Villagers were left stranded when this bridge leading to Moo 9 in tambon Nareng in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Nop Phi Tham was destroyed during major flooding early this year. (Photo by Nucharee Rakrun)

The Highways Department has earmarked 3.5 billion baht to repair roads damaged by flooding in the South early this year.

Aphisit Promsane, director of the department's highways maintenance management bureau, said the funds were for works on a total of 134 roads and 348 bridges.

Of the budgetted 3.5 billion baht, 500 billion drawn from the department's emergency budget had been allocated for roads requiring urgent repair, such as access roads to villages used daily by residents.

Another 1.7 billion baht from the mid-year budget and 1.3 billion baht from the 2018 fiscal budget will be spent repairing the remainder of the damaged roads in the southern region, Mr Aphisit said. Contractors were being sought for the work.

All repairs were expected to be complete by 2018, he said.

Mr Aphisit also said the department has helped the Royal Irrigation Department survey roads that block waterways nationwide. Initially, 38 roads have been found to block the flow of water.

The Highways Department is designing culverts to be built under those roads so the water can pass through. The proposal will be sent to the Royal Irrigation Department for consideration, Mr Aphisit said.

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