Thailand’s airport high-speed rail project hits budget snag

The Nation/Asia News Network

BANGKOK — The high-speed rail project to link Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports faces a delay due to a budget problem, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has said.

The budget to demolish infrastructure to make way for the new high-speed system has not been approved, meaning delivery of the first phase will be delayed from January 2021 to February-March, the SRT announced.

The infrastructure had been earmarked for demolition but contractors would have to wait for approval of the 2021 budget before finishing the job, explained Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chaiwat Thong-Kamkoon on Friday. The budget would be approved before the end of this year, he assured. Contractors had already been hired to undertake the work, he added.

The deadline for delivery of the entire high-speed rail project was October 2021, said SRT deputy governor Sujit Chaosirikul.

Also on Friday, the SRT and Department of Highways signed a memorandum of understanding for the usage of highways during construction activities.