Transport Ministry aims to fast-track 10 mass-transit train projects

The confidences stems from the consideration proccess via the super-fast lane, an amended environmental law, under which the state agency responsible for an investment projects can undertake the process of procurement and do not need to wait for the completion of the projects’ environmental impact assessment (EIA) review.
The projects are part of the country’s 20 urgent infrastructure mega-projects that the government plans to start by 2017. The projects have a combined investment value of Bt1.8 trillion and come under the Transport Ministry’s eight-year infrastructure development plan (2015-22).
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith announced the plan to commence construction of the urban-rail projects yesterday.
The master plan for the development of mass-transit train projects in Bangkok covers a 10-year period.
Arkhom said a long delay in infrastructure projects was affecting the country’s growth and the government now employed an infrastructure-led growth policy.
He said Cabinet approval would be sought next month for many projects. They include the following mass-transit projects: the Orange Line (Min Buri-Thailand Cultural Centre), the Pink Line (Khae Rai-Min Buri) and the Yellow Line (Lat Phrao-Samrong).
The bidding process for the construction of those lines is expected to be completed by August.
The Purple Line (Bang Sue-Bang Yai) is slated to commence services in August, four months sooner than expected, said Arkhom, while the Cabinet is expected to decide on the proposed Purple Line (Tao Poon-Ratchaburana) by June. Also in the mix are six dual-track railway projects, two of which are already under construction.
The plan is to submit the others gradually to the Cabinet for consideration and proceed with the bidding process.
The Thai-Chinese medium-speed-railway project is under negotiation while the design work for the Thai-Japanese high-speed-railway project is completed, Arkhom said.
He added that for the other two projects, high-speed trains from Bangkok-Rayong and Bangkok-Hua Hin, the ministry would try to seek approval from the Cabinet in April before proceeding with the bidding process.
Meanwhile, the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s second phase is under way. 
Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said that in light of the global economic slowdown, the government had shifted the focus to be more on internal economic growth, especially growth driven by the grass-roots economy.