He said most of the ministry’s investments in fiscal 2017 would be continuations of projects from fiscal 2016 and those that were unable to attain their targets this fiscal year. Next week, the ministry will report such problems to the Cabinet, he said.
The four high-speed-rail projects that are not expected to achieve their targets this fiscal year will be included in the 2017 plan. These are the Bt179-billion 252.5-kilometre Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima route, the Bt224-billion 382km Bangkok-Phitsanulok route, the Bt152-billion 193.5km Bangkok-Rayong route, and the Bt94.6-billion 165km Bangkok-Hua Hin route.
The ministry will today (Nov 1) propose to the Cabinet three double-tracking projects, Arkhom said. They are the Bt24.84-billion 148km Lop Buri-Pak Nampho route, the Bt20.04-billion 165km Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin route, and the Bt10.30-billion 190km Hua Hin-Prachuap Khiri Khan route.
Also included in the 2017 plan are nine double-tracking projects. They are the 90km Hua Hin-Prachuap Khiri Khan route, 309km Chira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani route, 174km Khon Kaen-Nong Khai route, 167km Chumphon-Surat Thani route, 339km Surat Thani-Songkhla route, 45km Hat Yai-Padang Besar route, 217km Denchai-Chiang Mai route, 326km Denchai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong route, and 335km Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom route.
Other projects are two extensions for the Skytrain Green Line – the Bt11.99-billion 7km Khu Khot-Lamlukka route and Bt13.70-billion 7km Samut Prakarn-Bangpoo route – and one motorway project, the Bt80-billion 119km Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am route.