Deputy Premier Urges Implementation Of Electric Train Project

[george]

Deputy premier urges implementation of electric train project

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula on Monday called senior officials of state agencies concerned in the development of 5 new electric train routes to meet and discuss a progress in the task and urged them to get the project off the ground by this year.

A source said Pridiyathorn and Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um met senior officials of the Traffic and Transport Planning and Policy Office of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA)and the State Railway of Thailand to discuss the progress in the electric train project.

The office’s officials reported to them more than 96 per cent of people surveyed in a public hearing held late last year want the government to accelerate construction of the 5 electric train routes and fix fares in a range of 12-36 baht, depending on distance.

MRTA governor Prapas Chongsa-nguan briefed both ministers of a progress in a project design in detail and an expropriation of land for construction.

He reiterated a bidding process for contractors of two electric train routes (Bangyai-Bang Sue and an extension section between Hua Lam Pong-Bang Kae and Bang Sue-Tha Pra) under the supervision of MRTA would begin in May.

The source said Pridiyathorn had urged all state agencies concerned to accelerate the bidding process and construction to ensure the project could get off the ground by the end of this year since he wanted funds used to finance the project construction to help boost the economy this year.

--TNA 2007-01-08

[brazil]

trying to ignite a now depressed economy

too late mr finance minister

Edited January 8, 2007 by brazil