PM: Support transport plans facing EIAs

“So far, this has not been the state’s fault. Some projects are underway while some are close to passing the EIA procedure, as scheduled,” Prayut said, after meeting Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and senior officers at the ministry.
He said some projects that could not proceed in line with plans would get extended timelines, and hoped people would understand. 
“People who live in the areas welcome the projects while those who are outside the areas fight them instead. This made some projects stumble,” said Prayut, who is also chief of the National Council for Peace and Order.
One of the projects the government wants to undertake, that cannot be sped up because of delays in the EIA process, is the Sino-Thai high-speed railway, the PM said.
But he said the government-to-government rail project would go ahead as planned and the route where it will be built was also clear. 
Construction should start next year. 
Article 44 of the interim charter would not be invoked to evict people from their living areas where the line will be built, Prayut said, his administration preferred to talk with people who live in those area over the past two years to help them understand.
“We don’t want to make any conflict with people,” said Prayut, adding that if the logistics route could not happen, hundreds of projects being prepared would be at risk.