Plans are afoot for Phuket, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen to have monorails, which would simultaneously offer convenient transport for tourists, boost the local economy and tackle congestion.
Investment in the projects would be funded by mid-year additional budget of as much as 190 billion baht for fiscal 2017 to finance local development of the 18 clusters of provinces endorsed by the government last December, according to Prime Minister's Office Minister Suvit Maesincee.
Mr Suvit estimated some 60 billion baht from the additional mid-year budget would be slated to develop key infrastructure projects in the provincial clusters including the monorails in those three provinces.
Phuket's monorail alone is expected to cost about 23.5 billion baht.
According to the Transport Ministry, the monorail will link Phuket airport in Thalang district and Chalong intersection in Muang district, spanning 60 kilometres.
The system's 20 stations will include Thanun, Phuket airport, Thalang, Thep Kasatri and Si Sunthon Heroines Monument.
Also on the line will be Koh Kaew, Phuket bus terminal II, Phuket Rajabhat University, Thung Kha, Old Town City, Clock Tower junction, Bang Naew, Phuket public library, Saphan Hin and Sakdidej.
The remaining stations will be Dao Rung, Wichit, Chao Fa (East), Pah Lai, Ban Kok Tanod and Chalong.
Investment costs for the monorail projects in Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai are not yet available.
The cabinet in December last year approved a mid-year budget of 190 billion baht for fiscal 2017.
Of the total additional mid-year budget, 27 billion baht will be funded by tax and other state income and the remaining 163 billion from borrowing, whereby the Finance Ministry will issue savings bonds to honour this batch.
Proceeds from the government bonds will be earmarked for provincial development and to stimulate the economy in local communities.
Some 100 billion baht will be allocated for local development of the 18 clusters of provinces, with the rest slated for Village Fund development worth about 500,000 baht per village.
According to Mr Suvit, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha recently told officials to set aside 100 billion baht for local economic development to cover both social and economic development in the provinces.
He said the 18 provincial clusters are expected to submit their development projects by the middle of this month, with the projects likely to be finalised by the end of this month.
Mr Suvit said the savings bonds will be issued in February.