The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has been instructed to expedite efforts to construct electric train projects and return road lanes to ease congestion in Bangkok, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak says.
Mr Somkid said the MRTA must explain to the public what the benefits of the projects will be and which areas the routes will pass through.
"They must also attach importance to traffic jams during the construction of the projects in the capital," Mr Somkid said.
"They were asked to rush through the construction and return areas set aside for the construction as well as quickly withdraw the equipment in the spots where the work is completed in order to ease the burden for people in Bangkok."
According to the deputy premier, electric train projects are also needed in major cities in the regions to cope with jams and respond better to public demand.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) acting governor Worawut Mala said a contract for the Thai-Sino high-speed railway project between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima is likely to be signed next month.
Known as "Contract 2.3", this is one of 14 separate deals that are required for the 252.5-kilometre-long section of the scheme. It involves the tracks, an electricity system, machinery, procurement of train carriages and training.
Regarding the double-track rail project from Chumphon to Ranong, this is being deliberated on by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), he noted.
Mr Worawut said a consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) is scheduled to hold talks with the SRT committee that will select contractors today on a high-speed rail project linking three major airports.
The consortium submitted the lowest bid for the project that connects Don Mueang airport in Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi in Samut Prakan and U-tapao in Rayong. He said the talks could last until sometime this evening.
Previous talks hit a dead end when the SRT rejected 12 proposals by the consortium that were outside the terms of reference (ToR).
"CP is expected to be ready for [a new round of] talks," said Mr Worawut, adding a contract could be signed this month.
An SRT source said he was unsure how the consortium would react to the SRT shooting down its ideas.
