Government to shell out B900bn on transport
The government plans to spend almost 900 billion baht to develop all modes of transport this year. Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on January 2 the investment plan will comprise 36 infrastructure projects, covering air, marine and land transportation, worth a total of 895.7 billion baht. The projects include double-track railways, electric trains which link suburban areas and urban areas, motorways, ports and airports development. He said the ferry boat service linking Pattaya in Chon Buri to Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan was due to start on Jan 1 but was postponed due to strong winds and waves in the Gulf of Thailand. It is expected to start on Thursday. Lt Gen Sansern said once the ferry service begins, it will cut the travel time from Pattaya to Hua Hin and vice versa from 4-5 hours to an hour and 45 minutes. This will help boost the economies of the two coastal towns, he added.
