The cabinet will be asked to approve a 18.5-billion baht budget for 29 development projects in Surat Thani today.
The final figure was announced yesterday following a meeting of economic ministers and the state-private committees for economic solutions in Surat Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Surat Thani, which hosted the cabinet meeting, will ask for the largest share of the budget, while Chumphon wants 123.5 million baht, Nakhon Si Thammarat 101.7 million baht and Phatthalung 99.9 million baht, mainly for road improvements and canal dredging.
The Surat Thani request includes a proposal to carry out four mega-projects, worth more than 11.6 billion baht in total.
The projects are the establishment of an advanced medical institute at the Prince of Songkhla University, the expansion of a tap water service on Koh Samui, the construction of a new prison and the widening of road traffic lanes. Other smaller projects in Surat Thani include transport development, water management, the construction of a building for in-patients at Surat Thani hospital, and development of tourist facilities.
Suratthani Rajabhat University will ask for 2.1-billion baht for development, including a new library and information centre as well as a learning centre for sciences and environment. The four provinces will also jointly ask the cabinet to approve 137.3 million baht for a survey and initial design of a new international airport in Surat Thani's Don Sak district.