The Transport Ministry is fast-tracking two high-speed train routes under the public-private partnership (PPP) programme.
Just one bite on a snack given to him by locals is enough to make Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha the centre of attention for photo snappers at Ban Nong Rian School in Surat Thani's Ban Na Doem district where he inspected projects yesterday to help rubber farmers under the state 'Pracharat' scheme that encourages villagers, officials and business people to work together for sustainable development. Government House
They are the 94.7-billion-baht Bangkok-Hua Hin route and 152.5-billion-baht Bangkok-Pattaya-Rayong route.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said he has instructed the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to speed up the study on the investment of the two high-speed train lines to comply with the Private Investments in State Undertakings Act.
The two projects will be put on the PPP fast track for urgent investment next year, he said.
"The details of the investment model will be stipulated by the PPP committee," the minister said.
"But at this stage, both Thai and foreign private operators will be allowed to invest."
SRT governor Wuthichart Kalyanamitra said a consultancy firm will send an investment study on the two lines to the SRT by February.
The Transport Ministry will consider it before forwarding it to the State Enterprises Policy Commission, or the superboard, and the PPP committee for further deliberation, he said.
"The study of two projects is aimed to be sent to the PPP committee by the first quarter of next year, or the second quarter at the latest," said Mr Wuthichart.
He added that the construction bids for the two routes could be launched in the third quarter.
The contractors will be sought next year, the governor said.
After the investment costs for the two projects are concluded, work will be done on stipulating the investment ratio between the private and state sectors.
Private firms will also be asked which work they are interested in, such as civil work, construction, train operation and property development along the rail lines, Mr Wuthichart said.
Thai Beverage Plc has shown an interest in investing in the 211km Bangkok-Hua Hin route.
Charoen Pokphand Group, the country's largest agro-industrial and food conglomorate, meanwhile, is willing to invest in the 194km Bangkok-Pattaya-Rayong route.