Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is urging faster progress on three electric railway projects in Bangkok this year as he steps up efforts to develop transportation links to help bolster the economy.
His push gives brighter prospects to the Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae and Bang Sue-Tha Phra routes (Blue Line), Lat Phrao-Samrong (Yellow Line) and Kae Rai-Min Buri (Pink Line), especially the last two as the public has heard few reports of progress.
Their development is essential to travel in Bangkok, which will get an extended network of subways, but also sends positive signals on investment, Mr Somkid said after meeting Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday.
The deputy prime minister, who with his team of economic ministers hope to spur Thailand's lagging economy, partly by developing transport links, said earlier his team is inviting private firms to co-invest in state projects, a key part of the stimulus plan after it gains full backing from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Businessmen are waiting to see if they will be allowed to participate more in multi-billion baht projects through the public-private partnerships, known as PPPs.
Next year, Mr Somkid added, he will also speed up the Orange Line, which connects the Thailand Cultural Centre and Min Buri, and the extended Purple Line between Taopun and Rat Burana.
Outside Bangkok, Mr Somkid said he and Mr Arkhom also agreed to push ahead new rail route projects to improve Thailand's east-west and north-south transport links.
The projects include the Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Rayong, Tak-Phitsanulok-Khon Kaen-Mukdahan and Bangkok-Chiang Mai lines, which are being studied by Japan for possible investment, as well as the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi-Nong Khai and Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut lines, which are being studied by China, he said.
These routes must be carried out simultaneously so that once they are finished, "they will immediately make Thailand the centre of the Asean Economic Community", Mr Somkid said.
Authorities are busy figuring out investment plans and thinking about the economic returns from these projects, he said.
Rail road construction will drive development along both sides of the tracks as it will bolster land prices, boost tourism and help expand businesses, all of which are crucial to economic progress, Mr Somkid said.
The Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Rayong line is particularly crucial to the economy because it passes industrial areas and ensures better freight transport from Kanchanaburi to Myanmar and India, he added.
"We expect to have study findings [on this project] from Japanese experts in October or November," Mr Arkhom said.