Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has decided the Chira-Khon Kaen double track railway will be partially elevated when it passes through downtown Nakhon Ratchasima, ending local people's worries the city would be divided by a giant wall according to the original plan.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said 4km of the 12km route, which cuts across the city, would be elevated.
At the junction where the railway is to cross the elevated bypass the track will pass through a tunnel, he said, adding the bridge in front of Sima Thani needs to be demolished to make way for the tunnel.
The original design of the section, which would cut through roads in Muang district in 15 places, was due to be fenced by 2-metre walls.
The disputed section runs from Chira Road junction in Muang district to Khon Kaen. Local people said they feared heavy congestion would result from the Nakhon Ratchasima line.
"The premier's order will result in changing the design, with a new round of construction bidding due to open,'' he said.
''The budget will be increased by 2.2-2.6 billion baht," he added, adding this will be on the agenda of the mobile cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima today.
The change might cause delays to the project of about 12 months, he said.
The minister added the government, private sector and the local people were all pleased with the decision.
He was speaking Monday after a working lunch with governors, local administrators and representatives from the private sector from 20 northeastern provinces.
Assistant government spokesman Atisith Chainivati said effective water management must be carefully considered before construction begins.
Local representatives urged the government to expedite the Lam Sapung reservoir project as well as building water gates in the border provinces along the Mekong River and small ponds to absorb water and prevent floods.
Ministers earlier this week visited local people in the Northeast to get first-hand soundings of their concerns.
He said other agenda items which his ministry will propose at the cabinet meeting include the 5.2 billion baht design and supervision contracts for the Thai-Sino high speed train running from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, and permission for the private sector to join in investing in the 8.4 billion baht project for two motorway routes: Bangpa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima and Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi for operation and maintenance, as a public-private partnership.
The ministry will also ask for cabinet approval for a 3.5 billion baht to finance the rehabilitation of infrastructure in flood-hit areas in the North and the Northeast.
Kobsak Pootrakool, vice minister attached to the PM's Office, said the National Economic and Social Development Board has been ordered to write a comprehensive plan for development in the Northeast.
Infrastructure, livestock and plantation farming as well as water management will be included in the plan.
Upon his arrival on Monday, the prime minister was warmly welcomed by locals mainly from Muang district, who presented him with white roses and stressed they were there with "pure intentions", to which the PM cordially replied by saying "I'm also working with pure intentions".
While waiting for the PM to arrive in tambon Hua Thale, Amphon Weerahan, a local from Amphoe Nonedaeng said, "I'm happy. I just wanted to see him because I've never seen him before.
"I want him to help develop Nondaeng district and help solve the problem of persistent flooding. I think he will be able to fix it since he is a capable man," she said.