The cabinet on Tuesday approved action plans for 20 big-ticket infrastructure projects worth a combined 1.79 trillion baht, part of the government's urgent strategy to kick-start an ambitious development plan from 2015-22.
The government hopes to start construction of the projects next year, helping to raise Thailand's economic growth by 1% in 2016.
The accelerated development plan will divide the 20 projects into two parts, with six projects already approved by the cabinet.
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They are the one-metre-gauge double-track rail network linking the Jira intersection in Nakhon Ratchasima to Khon Kaen; the Pattaya-Map Ta Phut motorway; Bang Pa-in-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima motorway; development of Laem Chabang deep-sea port; container terminal development at Laem Chabang; and the second phase of Suvarnabhumi airport's expansion.
The combined cost of the six projects is 186 billion baht.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the six projects would be able to call bids this month or in next year's first quarter.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the other 14 projects were expected to open bidding and start construction in 2016 and 2017.
Funding will come mainly from three key sources.
Thy are the government's fiscal budget worth 84.1 billion baht, borrowing of 1.27 trillion and public-private partnership (PPP) schemes worth 377 billion. The rest will come from other sources.
The government expects to invest 1.8 billion baht in this fourth quarter, 11.1 billion in next year's first quarter, 20.2 billion in the second quarter and 25.2 billion in the third quarter.
Mr Arkhom reported to the cabinet that the transport infrastructure plans conformed to the government's fast-track PPP strategy that puts five projects worth a combined 334 billion baht on the front burner.
The projects comprise the Pink, Yellow and Blue Line mass-transit routes in Bangkok worth a combined 194 billion baht and the Bang Pa-in-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi inter-city highways worth 140 billion.
They are due to start in the second half of next year.
