“If these projects are proposed to the Cabinet, they will go ahead swiftly, early next year. I’d like to see the East Economic Corridor Project [get under way] in the fourth quarter” of this year, Somkid said.

After a recent meeting with the Transport Ministry, he said the East Economic Corridor Project would be submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on August 31 before forwarding it to the Cabinet next month.

The East Economic Corridor Project consists of four key transport-infrastructure projects that the ministry is responsible for – Bangkok-Rayong high-speed railway, U-tapao International Airport, a seaport as well as a ferry port.

The train project will be forwarded to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee before going to the Cabinet.

The airport and Chuk Samet Port will be funded by their owner, the Royal Thai Navy.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said that on August 31, the overall picture of the East Economic Corridor Project with benefits from the transport-infrastructure projects would be proposed.

The land-development plans for the four high-speed railways will also be proposed. The lines are Bangkok-Rayong, Bangkok-Hua Hin, Bangkok-Phitsanulok-Chiang Mai, and Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima.

After sounding the market with the private sector, these development plans will be opened for PPPs.

The property development will begin along the Bangkok-Rayong route with five potential stations –Pattaya, Chon Buri, Sri Racha, Rayong and Chachoengsao.

The Bangkok-Rayong project was given Cabinet approval for bidding expected early next year.

The Bangkok-Phitsanulok route was opened for Japan and it was conducting a feasibility study on the return on investment from fares and land development.

The result will be presented to the Cabinet in November before the project is designed.

The Bangkok-Nakhon Rat-chasima train project, which has China as Thailand’s partner, will be discussed in Beijing tomorrow to finalise China’s design of the 3.5-kilometre first section.

The design by China for the 11km second section will be delivered in November and for the 110km third section in February.

Thailand and China will draft a contract for the design and construction of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed-rail project and its progress will be reported to the Cabinet today.