!
Latest updates
kiwi Guarantee Book now and get protection against cancelations that would wouldn't get if you booked direct
Chiang Mai's Food Odyssey: Street Eats to Gourmet Feasts
Bangkok Airways to Resurrect Vital Flight Routes to Northern Thailand
Thai Vietjet Air: Exclusive May Offers for FUN Rewards Members
Hua Hin Airport anticipates surge in international flights after expansion
No more flights to Mae Hong Son
Really Cool Airlines to launch in December (Really!)
6 Steps to Grabbing Cheap Flights - DomesticFlightsThailand
Getting Around Bangkok
Koh Lanta: A Hidden Treasure Near Krabi
Sea, Sand, and Surf in Thailand: Top 5 Spots
All news
More travel guides
Thai Government to Use Section 44 to Speed up Suvarnabhumi’s New Runway Approval
3rd May 2016
Since the approval for the new runway at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is taking somewhat longer than anticipated, the government of Thailand is likely to pull out an ace from its sleeve in the form of Section 44, a somewhat controversial law for everything from kicking off infrastructure projects, giving military the authority to arrest people to banning protests.
In an interview, Thai Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said:
We may proceed with the third runway as soon as possible.
The minister also said the special powers Section 44 grants will be used to speed up several assessments for the Suvarnabhumi project, including its impact on the environment. Mr Arkhom also pointed out that, beside the runway, the special powers cold also be used for the planned high-speed rail projects the government has in mind.
Thailand will spend around 4 trillion baht by 2022 that will be used to build new roads, railways and custom checkpoints. With the help of these, several bottlenecks that impede trade between the monarchy and its neighbors will be removed.
The government has also started talks with Japan and China about the construction of a high-speed rail network that would connect Thai’s shipping and manufacturing hubs with the buyers and suppliers from southern China and India’s NE frontier. According to Mr Arkhom, the negotiations with China are still open.
On the other side, Japan wants to link Kanchanaburi, Bangkok and Chachoengsao and will invest in a 574km-ling east-west dual-track rail line between these cities, as well as a 670km high-speed train route between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Arkhom Defends the Use of Section 44
The use of Section 44 is rarely a welcome site, but Minister Arkhom defends it by saying the Ministry of Transport has already gained approval for seven out of 20 projects in its 1.79 trillion baht infrastructure spending plan.
Mr Arkhom said:
What I committed to was to get cabinet approval and then they can start the bidding process and they can start the construction. But this type of projects takes several years. The government has a time limit only until next year, so our priority is how to get all these projects done, but not finished.
Categories:
Related Airports
Related News
Suvarnabhumi Airport ready to process 150 passengers each minute
Suvarnabhumni airport preparing for high season
