Isan motorway pushed by Highway Dept

The Department of Highways is pushing for the project to construct the Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Ratchasima Highway to go ahead and be finished by 2018.

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Dept pushes for B84bn Isan motorway

Bang-Pa-in phase could start next year

Amornrat Mahitthirook

The Department of Highways will push for a project to construct the Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Ratchasima motorway to be included in the eight-year strategic infrastructure development plans initiated by the junta, a department source said.

The inter-provincial motorway would ease traffic congestion on Mittraphap Road leading to the Northeast, as well as distributing wealth throughout the region.

The motorway is also intended to be part of the Asean Highway Network to accommodate the integration of the Asean Community.

The project was originally part of the 2-trillion-baht borrowing bill for infrastructure investment initiated by the previous Yingluck government, but was ruled unconstitutional in March.

The 2-trillion-baht scheme dealt mostly with road expansion and railway construction projects.

The National Council for Peace and Order has ordered a review of several projects under the 2-trillion-baht loan scheme.

Some projects have been shelved, such as the 800-billion-baht high-speed train, while others, such as three electric train lines in Greater Bangkok, motorways and a dual-track railway have been retained and are set to proceed under the eight-year plan in the 2015 fiscal year, starting in October.

The new infrastructure projects are likely to tap into the fiscal budget, borrowing and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The source said the inter-provincial motorway project between Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Ratchasima involves 6.63 billion baht in compensation for land expropriation.

Costs relating to land expropriation compensation will be funded by the 2015-2016 budget, while construction costs of 77.97 billion baht may be funded through loans or through a joint public-private venture, the source said.

The four-lane motorway will run from Bang Pa-in district of Ayutthaya, through Saraburi to Nakhon Ratchasima, covering 196 kilometres.

Construction of the first phase will cover Bang Pa-in and Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, starting next year until 2017.

The second-phase project will cover Pak Chong to downtown Nakhon Ratchasima, between 2016 and 2018.

On Feb 5 last year, the cabinet of the previous government approved a royal decree for expropriation of land covering 12 districts in Ayutthaya, Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima for the project.

The decree took effect in April last year.

About 3,200 land plots will be expropriated.

You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/418026/dept-pushes-for-b84bn-isan-motorway

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