Democrats to unveil 'better' plan for transport

[Lite Beer]

POLITICS
Democrats to unveil 'better' plan for transport
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The opposition Democrat Party will tomorrow unveil an alternative plan for the country's transport infrastructure system, claimed to be able to "better respond to the country's problems than that of the government", according to deputy party leader Korn Chatikavanij.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is also the opposition leader, will lead senior party figures in unveiling an investment plan called Thai Khemkhaeng (Strong Thailand) 2020, said Korn, who is former finance minister.

He said the information to be presented was aimed at allowing the public to compare it with the government's Bt2-trillion loans plan to fund its transport infrastructure projects.

"We are confident that our investment plan for the country's future under Thai Khemkhaeng will be able to better answer to the country's problems, in a better way than the government's does," Korn said.

The Democrat move came at a time the government led by the ruling Pheu Thai Party planned to hold a road show in different parts of the country to promote the Bt2-trillion loans plan, which has come under heavy criticism from critics and the opposition.

Korn yesterday said the Democrats were not aiming to compete with the government's road show, due to their limited funds. He also questioned the credibility of the government's information to be presented at its road show events.

He said the Democrats would petition with the Constitutional Court for a ruling whether the government's bill to allow the Finance Ministry to borrow Bt2 trillion for the projects was constitutional. Korn said the party's legal team was drafting the petition and was expected to complete its work this coming week.

The Democrats would wait until the bill passes the Senate's deliberation before they would submit their petition with the court, according to Korn.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong yesterday said he had no concern about the Democrat move to bring the case to court. He said the government had carefully considered the bill in detail and found no issues that could lead to a legal problem.

Kittiratt, who is also deputy prime minister, said there were similar laws issued by past governments. He added that a delay of the legislation would make the country lose good opportunities. "All the parties involved should think of the national interest first," he said.

Senator Surachai Chaitrakulthong, secretary of the Senate whip, said the Senate was expected to start first-reading deliberation of the Bt2-trillion borrowing bill on September 30.

After the House passed its third reading on Friday night, the bill should be fprwarded to the Senate tomorrow (Monday) while the Senate whip had scheduled Wednesday to discuss when to put it on agenda.

Earlier, related Senate committees, on transportation as well as finance and monetary issues, had studied the content of the bill to some extent. The Senate would consider again whether to look at the reports at the same time.

-- The Nation 2013-09-22

[NomadJoe]

Did somebody say "transport"? Please sent some of that money and energy towards fixing transport in Phuket!!!

[jaiyen]

But they still havent said what this massive loan will be spent on. There are no plans for any infrastructure. They havent had time for such things. We know where a lot of the money will go but do the Thai people ?? They will never see any benefit only poverty.

[phitsanulokjohn]

Will it be transport that can reduce the amount of accidents here by about 99%?

[phitsanulokjohn]

Will it be transport that can reduce the amount of accidents here by about 99%?

[siampolee]

Will it be transport that can reduce the amount of accidents here by about 99%?

Yes if we all go back to walking.

Seriously though it is a dream. the process of updating the present infastructure let alone extending it into new areas of development will take at the very least 5-10 years before any progress and thus any benefit may be seen.

Thailand is not capable of dealing with this matter on its own, outside expertise planning . construction and operating wise are essential to such a scheme,. Can we name one company alone here in Thailand capable of handling such matters? No , it has to be international consortium's and finance.

Given Thailand's track record in how it deals with foreign entities involved in mega projects there is little chance of any reputable consortium bidding for these proposed projects, the feasibility studies followed by the planning period along with the costing operation of such projects will be at least a 2-3 year project.

However the Thai's can't grasp those concepts of forward planning etc etc hence they think a wave of the magic wand will be all that is needed to get the ball rolling.

The Democrats would be wiser if they pointed out the above items to the electorate rather than proposing their grand maser plan for these assorted scams schemes.

Earlier, related Senate committees, on transportation as well as finance and monetary issues, had studied the content of the bill to some extent. The Senate would consider again whether to look at the reports at the same time.

What the Senate committee are saying in reality is that they don't really understand the matter and its complexity, nor are they ever likely to do so in the foreseeable future either no matter how many times they may peruse the bill.

[planr]

But they still havent said what this massive loan will be spent on. There are no plans for any infrastructure. They havent had time for such things. We know where a lot of the money will go but do the Thai people ?? They will never see any benefit only poverty.

Actually, they have broken it down broadly speaking - http://www.thai-japanasso.or.th/download/130425part1_p1_42.pdf

Nearly all of the projects in the bill have been in various planning stages for up to 20 years. The only "brand new" items that might be considered truly pie in the sky are the HSR routes to Chiang Mai, Isaan, and the South (the Chonburi / Rayong route was first studied in the mid-1990s under Chuan and the Democrats).

Will it be transport that can reduce the amount of accidents here by about 99%?

Since a plurality of accidents, if not a majority are caused by alcohol and/or inattentive driving, probably not.

Any plan the Democrats put forth will have some, if not all of the same projects. It will just be repackaged in a more palatable (and perhaps logical) fashion in terms of financing. No Democrat is against double-tracking the existing SRT network, speeding up implementation of new transit lines in Bangkok, let alone other projects, except perhaps some of the HSR lines.

My guess is they will put forward a smaller, revised package of projects that are "shovel ready" (to steal a phrase from Obama) and propose that they be paid for through normal budgetary processes.

[smutcakes]

Will it be transport that can reduce the amount of accidents here by about 99%?

Yes if we all go back to walking.

Seriously though it is a dream. the process of updating the present infastructure let alone extending it into new areas of development will take at the very least 5-10 years before any progress and thus any benefit may be seen.

Thailand is not capable of dealing with this matter on its own, outside expertise planning . construction and operating wise are essential to such a scheme,. Can we name one company alone here in Thailand capable of handling such matters? No , it has to be international consortium's and finance.

Given Thailand's track record in how it deals with foreign entities involved in mega projects there is little chance of any reputable consortium bidding for these proposed projects, the feasibility studies followed by the planning period along with the costing operation of such projects will be at least a 2-3 year project.

However the Thai's can't grasp those concepts of forward planning etc etc hence they think a wave of the magic wand will be all that is needed to get the ball rolling.

The Democrats would be wiser if they pointed out the above items to the electorate rather than proposing their grand maser plan for these assorted scams schemes.

Earlier, related Senate committees, on transportation as well as finance and monetary issues, had studied the content of the bill to some extent. The Senate would consider again whether to look at the reports at the same time.

What the Senate committee are saying in reality is that they don't really understand the matter and its complexity, nor are they ever likely to do so in the foreseeable future either no matter how many times they may peruse the bill.

The transport ministry did a large presentation on the infrastructure plan at the Conrad a couple of weeks ago and it was very impressive, albeit you would expect it to be given what they are requesting.

What is not widely known is that much of the actual road network improvements were actually drawn up under the Chavolit Government in 1997, with the assistance of Japanese consultants- the road infrastructure plans are just putting into action what was developed 15 years ago. I think all parties agree that large scale infrastructure development needs to be carried out, its just a question of the source of funding.

[Thaddeus]

Had to happen eventually.

PTP have no detailed plans for their transport system, so they just had to wait for some other people with some smarts to do it for them.

[Halion]

A simple concept which would ease traffic conjestion in major cities would be have the RTP do it job regarding enforcement of traffic regulations.

There are many major roads in Bangkok which have three lanes in each direction which are reduced to one lane owing to careless parking including taxi's and tuk tuk's, busses stopping in the second lane,pick ups making deliveries emerging vehicles pushing out on to yellow boxes only to get stranded and block at least two lanes of traffic. Traffic lights with timing which seems more designed to increase conjestion.

Perhaps if they would simply and diligently enforce the regs they allready have then people would be more convinced that they knew what they wee doing.

Traffic and transportation is bedlam and will simply get worse until these clowns can get the RTP to do their job and monitor and enforce existing regulations.

[khunken]

Will it be transport that can reduce the amount of accidents here by about 99%?

Yes if we all go back to walking.

Seriously though it is a dream. the process of updating the present infastructure let alone extending it into new areas of development will take at the very least 5-10 years before any progress and thus any benefit may be seen.

Thailand is not capable of dealing with this matter on its own, outside expertise planning . construction and operating wise are essential to such a scheme,. Can we name one company alone here in Thailand capable of handling such matters? No , it has to be international consortium's and finance.

Given Thailand's track record in how it deals with foreign entities involved in mega projects there is little chance of any reputable consortium bidding for these proposed projects, the feasibility studies followed by the planning period along with the costing operation of such projects will be at least a 2-3 year project.

However the Thai's can't grasp those concepts of forward planning etc etc hence they think a wave of the magic wand will be all that is needed to get the ball rolling.

The Democrats would be wiser if they pointed out the above items to the electorate rather than proposing their grand maser plan for these assorted scams schemes.

Earlier, related Senate committees, on transportation as well as finance and monetary issues, had studied the content of the bill to some extent. The Senate would consider again whether to look at the reports at the same time.

What the Senate committee are saying in reality is that they don't really understand the matter and its complexity, nor are they ever likely to do so in the foreseeable future either no matter how many times they may peruse the bill.

The transport ministry did a large presentation on the infrastructure plan at the Conrad a couple of weeks ago and it was very impressive, albeit you would expect it to be given what they are requesting.

What is not widely known is that much of the actual road network improvements were actually drawn up under the Chavolit Government in 1997, with the assistance of Japanese consultants- the road infrastructure plans are just putting into action what was developed 15 years ago. I think all parties agree that large scale infrastructure development needs to be carried out, its just a question of the source of funding.

You sound like a PTP spokesperson.

Most of the plans for roads and the upgrading of the current rail network are in place. The problem is that PTP has hijacked the funding to include the pie in the sky HSR, for which no feasibility studies - let alone plans - have been carried out.

The current railways are in urgent need of upgrading but the HSR is a distant future dream. The love of huge budgets & loans has blinded the party to get their priorities totally wrong. When Kittirat has to spend so much time defending the loan, it should raise a large red flag.

[planr]

The transport ministry did a large presentation on the infrastructure plan at the Conrad a couple of weeks ago and it was very impressive, albeit you would expect it to be given what they are requesting.

What is not widely known is that much of the actual road network improvements were actually drawn up under the Chavolit Government in 1997, with the assistance of Japanese consultants- the road infrastructure plans are just putting into action what was developed 15 years ago. I think all parties agree that large scale infrastructure development needs to be carried out, its just a question of the source of funding.

You sound like a PTP spokesperson.

Most of the plans for roads and the upgrading of the current rail network are in place. The problem is that PTP has hijacked the funding to include the pie in the sky HSR, for which no feasibility studies - let alone plans - have been carried out.

The current railways are in urgent need of upgrading but the HSR is a distant future dream. The love of huge budgets & loans has blinded the party to get their priorities totally wrong. When Kittirat has to spend so much time defending the loan, it should raise a large red flag.

Everything smutcakes said is true, regardless of politics. FWIW, I was at the presentation at the Conrad and Dr. Chadchart speaks clearly and concisely in a no BS fashion. He's actively parading the last ten years as the "Lost Decade," in terms of infrastructure and investment, which is both absolutely true but also pretty ballsy for someone in his position to admit.

That said, your comments are definitely not off the mark either...

Edited September 22, 2013 by planr

[SOTIRIOS]

.....road show...what a joke.....

...railroad the country......give the people a free meal........maybe 50-100 baht in return.....or a lotto ticket.....or a smile...a photo...

[smutcakes]

You sound like a PTP spokesperson.

Most of the plans for roads and the upgrading of the current rail network are in place. The problem is that PTP has hijacked the funding to include the pie in the sky HSR, for which no feasibility studies - let alone plans - have been carried out.

The current railways are in urgent need of upgrading but the HSR is a distant future dream. The love of huge budgets & loans has blinded the party to get their priorities totally wrong. When Kittirat has to spend so much time defending the loan, it should raise a large red flag.

How much of the funding is going towards the HSR?

[planr]

You sound like a PTP spokesperson.

Most of the plans for roads and the upgrading of the current rail network are in place. The problem is that PTP has hijacked the funding to include the pie in the sky HSR, for which no feasibility studies - let alone plans - have been carried out.

The current railways are in urgent need of upgrading but the HSR is a distant future dream. The love of huge budgets & loans has blinded the party to get their priorities totally wrong. When Kittirat has to spend so much time defending the loan, it should raise a large red flag.

How much of the funding is going towards the HSR?

THB 783 billion // 39% of the total planned spending.