TALKS ON THAI-CHINESE RAILWAY HIT SNAGS
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THE THAI-CHINESE high-speed-railway project is still struggling to get off the ground after the 12th meeting of a steering committee recently made little progress.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said after the meeting on Thursday that a few problems had been identified regarding the second part of the 252.5-kilometre Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section. Also, the Chinese side asked for a one-month extension of the deadline for detailed designs of that section, to November.
“We tried to come to a conclusion on the total cost of the project, but were unable to break through a few issues regarding expenditures on a feasibility study for which the Thai side has asked for support from China,” he said.
The cost of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section as the first phase of the 873km Thai-Chinese railway has been negotiated at between Bt179.32 billion and Bt179.8 billion.
Previously, the steering committee agreed to divide the section into four parts.
First, the 3.5km Klang Dong-Pang Asoke subsection was set to open bidding in August and start construction in October.
Second, the 11km Pak Chong-Klong Khananjit subsection was scheduled for submission of the detailed designs by the Chinese side in October.
Third is the 119km Kaeng Khoi-Korat subsection, for which detailed designs are expected in December.
Fourth, detailed designs for the 119km Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi subsection are due next February.
