Cabinet clears M9 motorway Bang Bua Thong–Bang Pa-in
Cabinet approved the M9 western outer ring road (Bang Bua Thong–Bang Pa-in). Civil works total 15.862bn baht; overall investment is about 56bn.
- The cabinet approved construction of Motorway No. 9 (the western section of Bangkok’s outer ring road) from Bang Bua Thong to Bang Pa-in.
- The project’s total investment is around 56 billion baht and has already been included in the FY2026 budget plan.
- The Transport Ministry said it is not a new project pushed near the election, but one that has been planned for some time.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the cabinet on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 approved proceeding with construction of Motorway No. 9, Bangkok’s western outer ring road, on the Bang Bua Thong–Bang Pa-in section, with total project investment of about 56 billion baht. He said the Department of Highways will now move to the next steps.
Phiphat said the project was already part of an existing plan and could be submitted to the cabinet because it had been included in the FY2026 budget plan. He added that the project had already undergone comprehensive studies and review, and that the Transport Ministry had consulted the Council of State, which advised it could be put to the cabinet for consideration.
Asked whether the approval could be seen as budget sign-off close to an election, Phiphat said this was not a new project and was not newly proposed, but a budgeted project that had already been considered. He acknowledged the timing could raise concerns because parliament had been dissolved, but insisted the restriction is on launching entirely new projects outside the budget system.
A Government House source said the approval in this round covers civil works worth about 15 billion baht, funded by toll-fee revenue and budget contributions.
Later, Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson, said the cabinet approved the civil works portion of the M9 project, using toll-fee funds and budget contributions from the Department of Highways. The approved amount totals 15.862 billion baht and covers three provinces: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya.
He added that the Council of State had agreed the project could be submitted to the cabinet because it is already included in the FY2026 annual budget, and therefore does not constitute an action that would bind a future cabinet.
