Great progress reported in most EEC infrastructure projects

OTP also said that of the remaining projects, two were waiting for the allocation of funds in 2021, six had been turned into public-private partnerships, nine had either been postponed or suspended and 30 had not started yet.
“The two projects that are seeking funds in 2021 for feasibility study and design include the construction of a road in Chonburi’s Ban Nong Khla area and the 174-kilometre double track railway from Khlong Sip Kao to Aranyaprathet,” an OTP official said.
“Meanwhile, the 25 projects preparing to seek funds in 2022 include the construction of highways from Chonburi to Nakhon Ratchasima and Trat, container depot in Nong Pladuk and facilities in U-Tapao International Airport.”
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said it is seeking a budget of no more than Bt100 million in 2021 for a feasibility study on the 174km double-track railway.
“The authority decided to accelerate the development because this project is in the third phase of SRT rail system development plan and is important to driving the country’s logistics and tourism in the EEC,” an official at SRT said.
“We expect the feasibility study to take about six to eight months. If the government decides to go ahead with the development, then the authorities will seek budget allocation in 2022 to study design.”
Meanwhile, Kamolsak Promprayoon, director-general of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), said bid documents are up for sale until August 14 for the second part of the third phase of Laem Chabang Port development.
“This project includes roads, buildings, ports and public utilities, while the project price is estimated at Bt6.502 billion,” he said. “The private sector can submit their proposal via the government’s electronic bidding platform on August 17 from 8.30am to 4.30pm.”
He added that bidders must pass qualifications, such as having experience in the construction of roads, buildings, ports and public utilities in the past 10 years.