Govt to revamp transport systems with 895bn baht budget

 

 

BANGKOK, 3 December 2016 (NNT) – The government aims to push forward the 895 billion baht transport system plan covering land, water, and air transports to accommodate the economic expansion, with the Pattaya - Hua Hin ferry trial run scheduled on 1-15 January 2017, says the government spokesman. 

The Government Spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd announced that the government is preparing to push forward 36 investment projects in transportation worth 895.76 billion baht in order to accommodate the economic expansion and better serve the general public. 

The projects for this year’s investment plan include dual track railroad projects, commuter train systems, metro systems, expressways, as well as the development of seaports and airports. 

“One of the projects which is now ready for service is the Pattaya - Hua Hin ferry transporting people across the Gulf of Thailand, which will reduce the travel time from land transport gauged at 4-5 hours to just 1.40 hours. The project is expected to help stir development in areas around ferry terminals to become economic hubs, generating some 4 billion baht revenue annually. The service is now under a trial run during which the general public can ride the ferry for free from today to 15 January 2017,” said the government spokesman. 

The ferry service will only operate with one vessel during a trial run, with the journey from Hua Hin departing at 8:30 a.m., and the journey from Pattaya departing at 3:30 p.m. A one-way journey will cost 1,200-1,250 baht per person upon the official opening on 16 January 2017. The service frequency will be doubled in February. 

The government is planning to extend the ferry service to be able to transport passengers and cars, as well as adding more routes such as Bang Pu - Hua Hin and Bang Pu - Pattaya. The renovation of ports is also planned to accommodate an increase in passengers and vehicles, along with the construction of passenger terminals, restaurants, and markets to attract passengers. 

The general public wishing to take part the ferry service's free trial run should register in advance on www.md.go.th, or arrive at the ferry terminal at the designated time.

 

-- nnt 2017-01-03

Wishful thinking and whimsy are the motivational forces working for the government. Unfortunately they dont cut the ice when compared to research analysis and planned procedure

Boy the pictures impressed the H out of me. I guess the rides will not be free. Seems the unions are complaining that the minimum wage increases are not high enough. I would guess unlike India no one will be hanging out the windows. Full of tourists and farangs I guess. I can remember as a child going to the airport for airplane spotting. Maybe airplane, train and ship spotting will be the new catch/day trip phrase here it will be free of course. 

Spot a floating ship, judging by the accident rate and poor maintenance records to date.

That's a lot of money for the ban of mini vans with maxi occupation chauffeured by maniacs.

So there's going to be a war for the job for minister of transport and the present one will be died soon then?  895 billion baht up for grabs

How an unelected government can use so much tax payers money without any accountability?

6 minutes ago, Raymonddiaz said:

How an unelected government can use so much tax payers money without any accountability?

Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

Same way that an elected government can I guess.

This is on the face of it really good news, if it happens, we will have to wait and see, transport systems are really important and there is room for a lot of improvement here as the current administration has noticed at long last, but this is just the start it needs to be maintained once its built and to a high standard so I can only hope that the plans will be developed with safety and longevity in mind this mean a change of mindset from we have seen previously, still I wish them luck to carry it out.

As for the Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry, overpriced, will not run to the time scheduled be bandied about so get your hopes up, I would like to see the servicing plans for the CAT, when and where otherwise it will break down somewhere you wont want to be with a container ship heading your way and that will not be good news for anyone!

Works out at over 13000Bt for every man, woman and child in the country. Well, it would if it were all to be spent and not 'saved'.

tomorrow check which bank stocks went up. Narrows down whom has pocketed it.

I am surprised that many people would want to make the trip from HH to Pats.  I think they are 2 different markets .... but what do I know?

A lot more Thai millionaires are coming up very soon on these projects.

The one thing they have forgotten to explain is where does the 895 million baht come from.

Their 2016 budget shows a total expenditure of 2720 billion baht with revenues of 2330 billion baht leaving a deficit of 390 billion baht.

Even though this additional planned expenditure may be spread over a number of years they still should be explaining where the money is coming from. Instead The Government Spokesman Lt Gen Sansern just waffles on about the HH/Pattaya ferry.

I suspect the expenditure will just be deficit growth. Or they could always print the money. Military economists at work.