Mobile Cabinet to review 199 southern projects worth THB57bn

The government’s first mobile Cabinet meeting of 2026 is expected to consider a preliminary package of 199 development projects worth more than 57 billion baht across five southern provinces.

The official off-site Cabinet meeting will be held in Songkhla on Tuesday (September 1), with proposed funding and policy support for projects in Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat among the main items on the agenda.

Bhumjaithai Party MP Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday (August 30) that the proposals covered economic development, tourism, transport, disaster prevention and other areas considered important to the five provinces.

The meeting is also expected to consider several major infrastructure projects separate from the 57-billion-baht package.

Double-track railway and bridge projects on agenda

Thanakorn said approval would be sought for three routes under the second phase of the southern double-track railway project, completing rail links from Chumphon to Padang Besar on the Malaysian border.

The three routes have a combined investment value of more than 100 billion baht.

The government is also expected to proceed with the signing of a construction contract for the Songkhla Lake Bridge, linking Krasae Sin district in Songkhla with Khao Chaison district in Phatthalung, as well as a bridge connecting Koh Lanta.

Another key issue will be the proposed development of Chana district in Songkhla. The government is expected to hear views and recommendations from all sides, with the Strategic Environmental Assessment and public participation serving as the main basis for further consideration.

Songkhla proposes projects worth more than THB35bn

Songkhla has proposed five projects ready for implementation, with a combined budget of 50 million baht.

The projects cover economic development, tourism, culture, transport and disaster prevention.

The province has also submitted 26 policy-level projects requiring government support, with a combined value of 35.061 billion baht.

The proposals involve agencies under the Interior, Transport, Energy, Public Health, Finance, Agriculture and Cooperatives, Digital Economy and Society, and Labour ministries, as well as the Royal Thai Police and the Budget Bureau.

However, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment raised concerns over an activity under a proposed project to connect two seas, involving tourism cruises to view Irrawaddy dolphins.

The ministry warned that the activity could have broad effects on the ecosystem and the dolphins’ habitat. It asked the relevant agencies to reconsider the proposal and conduct further studies.

The Songkhla Highway District also reported that it had 133 urgent projects, some of which had already been completed.

A further 106 projects remained unfinished, prompting a request for an additional 1.941 billion baht because the work had been affected by flooding.

Satun seeks support for 28 projects

Satun has proposed 17 urgent projects covering economic development, transport and disaster prevention.

The province also submitted 11 policy-level proposals requiring government support, although no budget was specified.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who previously chaired a preparatory meeting on the southern proposals, asked Satun to expand the scope of its plans to include Manang and Thung Wa districts.

Yala submits projects worth THB4.65bn

Yala has proposed 10 projects ready for implementation, with a combined value of 338.145 million baht.

It is also seeking government budget support for four further projects worth a total of 4.308 billion baht.

The province’s submission includes one additional policy proposal from the private sector that would not require state funding.

Pattani focuses on flooding and water management

Pattani has proposed six projects ready for implementation, with a combined budget of 50 million baht.

The projects focus on proactive disaster monitoring, improvements to drainage efficiency, assistance with basic household needs, the prevention of waterlogging in communities and the development of public water sources at ponds numbered five, six, seven and eight.

Phiphat previously raised questions about a proposed 400-million-baht project to dredge the Pattani navigation channel.

He instructed the Pattani governor to consult the Marine Department and reach a conclusion as quickly as possible.

The province was also asked to rank its proposed projects according to urgency and importance before proceeding to the next stage.

Narathiwat seeks more than THB15bn

Narathiwat has submitted six projects ready for implementation, with a combined value of 404.79 million baht.

The province has also proposed eight policy-level projects requiring government support, worth a total of 15.056 billion baht.

The preparatory meeting endorsed all of Narathiwat’s proposals for further consideration.

Flood projects likely to receive priority

Phiphat stressed that the proposals had not yet received final approval and would be carefully screened before being presented to the mobile Cabinet.

“Although many projects have been proposed, the government will consider them carefully,” he said.

“Only projects that are ready, offer value for money, do not place an excessive burden on the budget and genuinely benefit people in the area will be approved.”

Some projects may initially receive approval only in principle, he added.

Urgent proposals aimed at tackling flooding are among those considered most likely to receive support, although their details will still have to be reviewed before being submitted to the Cabinet.