The cabinet has approved in principle 10 infrastructure projects worth a combined 17.7 billion baht for four upper northern provinces.
Government spokesman Buddhipongse Punnakanta said on Tuesday a meeting of cabinet ministers, governors and representatives from the private sector, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed in principle the 10 infrastructure development projects for Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Lampang. The meeting took place shortly before the mobile cabinet meeting in Lampang on Tuesday.
The projects are:
- Road expansion project for a 3km section of Highway 11, from four lanes to eight lanes (100 million baht);
- Road expansion project for a 19.15km section of Highway 116 on Pasak-Sapung-Bang Ruen-San Patong route, from two lanes to four lanes (850 million baht);
- Road expansion project for a 95.31km section of Highway 1035 on Wang Mor Pattana-Chae Hom route (3.33 billion-baht);
- Elevated road project between Highway 1 on Koh Kha-Samakkhi route and Highway 11 on the North-Khun Tan route (100 million baht);
- Rail bridge project on Highway 1136 on Muang Nga-Lamphun route to link Lamphun province with Chiang Mai (300 million baht);
- Mae Rim bypass road project for a distance of 42.95km (6.97 billion baht);
- San Kamphaeng bypass road for a distance of 16.32km (4.26 billion baht);
- Truck terminal project (1.71 billion baht);
- Development project to turn Chiang Mai into a smart city (60 million baht); and
- Project to solve traffic problems around Chiang Mai international airport (budget unspecified).
Kittisak Sinwanasap, chairman of the Lampang Industry Council, said the private sector wanted the government to accelerate the runway expansion project at Lampang airport. The runway, currently 1,975m long, would be extended to 2,100m to accommodate large aircraft.
On the construction of the second Chiang Mai airport, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the ministry was considering a design for the project.
The prime minister instructed the Transport Ministry to prioritise projects based on necessities in line with the transportation infrastructure development and the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2017-21) and the 20-year National Strategy (2018-37), said the spokesman.