NCPO's economic board approves 3 trillion baht infrastructure projects

[Prbkk]

So all the TVF usual suspects screaming and shrieking about unsustainable infrastructure projects are now joining in the conga line in support. Amazing.

And you cant see the difference between 2.2 trillion borrowed off budget with no scrutiny or transparency.

And agreement in principal to carry out infrastructure projects over 8 years (2015 to 2022) from normal budget expenditures with the normal scrutiny.

No, that was never the key element of objections. It was all to do with cost. Now the General and his team endorse the ideas, so too the TVF conga line joins in with enthusiasm. Pathetic.

[khunken]

So all the TVF usual suspects screaming and shrieking about unsustainable infrastructure projects are now joining in the conga line in support. Amazing.

Typical twisted accusation with no truth in it.

Many posters, including me, saw many problems with the PTP's handling of all major projects and the inclusion of HSR as an unsustainable part of their B2.2tn bill. That has now been dropped.

I supported the rest of the projects included in the PTP's scheme but not the way they were going about it. The water management projects were an example of how not to implement costly scheme with a - 'gimmie the money first and then trust us' attitude.

I support the current approval of the infrastructure projects but I hope they break then down into manageable (& less corruptable) pieces.

[Lakegeneve]

After the usual excursions let's go back to the OP which only says

"approved in principle the Transport Ministry’s three trillion baht infrastructure development projects, excluding high-speed trains, for the years 2015-2022."

No details on budgets, National Budgets, etc., etc.

At least earlier this week (or was it last week) it was indicated that the dual tracking would be included in the yearly National Budgets as was done before the Yingluck 'amazing Thailand' tricks with extra parliamentary budgets.

Actually, most of these projects have bipartisan support regardless of who is in power. Wheoever is in power just works out their angle for benefit and to what degree.

What is being proposed is not that fundamentally dissimilar from what PT proposed in their 2.2 trillion baht bill which was drawn upon what the Democrats proposed back in 2010/11 For example, the first para in the box below is what was approved by the Democrats back in 2010 when they allocated 176 billion baht as the 1st phase of urgent SRT improvements (and the ongoing track duplication program), http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/732096-five-dual-track-railway-lines-proposed-for-quick-construction-thailand/page-4#entry7945295.

The main difference between PT and the Dems was the 350 billion for water projects post the late 2011 floods. Nearly everything else planned was the same under both govts being forward plans by various agencies and ministries.

The main difference between what the junta seems to be proposing and the PT is obviously excluding the 800 billion for HSR (thus =1.4 trillion of the PT package) but including extra port and road projects. Most of the airport improvements were already proposed and running behind schedule.

However, I'm struggling to see where the extra 1.6 trillon is going aside from the extra port and road projects.

We need to wait on the details but it is important to note that most of this was previously proposed by the 2 previous govts (and much of it delayed in the term of the last govt)

This strategy consists of five pillars.

First is the railways, including the inter-city lines, with five routes getting double tracking worth Bt116 billion. The five routes are Lop Buri-Paknampo, 148 kilometres worth Bt24 billion; Map Kabao-Nakhon Ratchasima, 132km, Bt29 billion; Jira Road-Khon Kaen, 185km, Bt26 billion; Nakhon Pathom-Hua Hin, 165km, Bt20 billion; and Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon, 167km, Bt17 billion.

The railway development strategy also includes the double-tracking of six more routes with total length of 1,364km worth Bt140 billion. They are Hua Hin-Prachuap Khiri Khan, 90km in length; Chumphon-Surat Thani, 167km; Surat Thani-Padang Besar, 339km; Paknampo-Den Chai, 285km, Khon Kaen-Nong Khai, 174km; and Jira Road-Ubon Ratchathani, 309km.

It also embraces three new double-track routes with total length of 696km worth Bt120 billion, which are Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Kong, 326km; Ban Pai-Maha Sarakham-Roi Et-Mukdahan-Nakhon Phanom, 347km; and Ban Pachi-Nakhon Luang, 15km.

The second pillar involves the public-transport system in Greater Bangkok (10 routes), while the third pillar is intra-regional and inter-provincial roads.

The fourth pillar is waterway projects such as deep-sea ports.

The fifth one is aviation projects such as development of the second phase of the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the procurement of aircraft by Thai Airways International. The development of this pillar is divided into three phases. The first phase, which will begin next year and cover both feasibility studies and the start of construction, is worth Bt210 billion.

The second phase in 2016-17 and will mostly cover newly developed projects worth Bt170 billion, while some will be projects carried on from the first phase.

The third phase will begin in 2018.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Construction-stocks-rise-in-anticipation-of-infras-30236203.html