Transport project could boost quality of life
The Bt2-trillion infrastructure project, mostly for high-speed rail, will be good for the country by shaping its urbanisation to improve the quality of life, according to Frost & Sullivan.
“We believe that more than half of the top mega cities in the world will consist of developing countries by 2025, including Bangkok,” Eng Lok Koh, head of F&S Thailand, said yesterday.
The government has said this mega plan – with 53 projects worth Bt2.27trillion to be completed by 2020 – is important to boost border tourism and trade through transport infrastructure connecting with neighbouring countries.
“Looking ahead into the next decade, we will see the integration of the core city centre with suburbs, resulting in the borders of cities being expanded.
“The rail expansion can ensure connectivity between Bangkok and its suburbs, allowing more people to commute to work in Bangkok easily,” he said.
The high-speed rail may also help alleviate high property prices in Bangkok.
“People who used to buy and rent properties in Bangkok now can buy their homes in the provinces and travel to Bangkok using the high-speed rail. The high-speed rail connectivity could create a sustainable economic profile for Bangkok and its surrounding areas,” he said.
“This project may potentially help to increase productivity of the country because people could use the shorter commuting time to do more productive work,” he added.
