The Transport Ministry is speeding up work on a joint plan for bus services that would link the far South and Malaysia to meet the needs of commuters between the two countries.
Transport deputy permanent secretary Phongchai Kasemtaweesak said ministry authorities expect to open talks with Malaysian transport officials over the bus project this month.
Officials are preparing papers and accelerating plans ordered by Transport Minister Prajin Juntong to ensure the talks start on schedule, he said.
Klai Kangwon
Under the plan, the public bus route would link Thailand to Malaysia via Songkhla, Pattani, Satun, Narathiwat and Yala.
The bus route would increase convenience for people travelling between the two nations and boost tourism, Mr Phongchai said.
Thailand unofficially allows buses from Malaysia to cross the border to five southern border provinces — Songkhla, Pattani, Satun, Narathiwat and Yala — with the objective of boosting trade and tourism, he said.
"Our buses still cannot enter Malaysia due to legal restrictions that are likely to be relaxed after the talks," he added.
Mr Phongchai said the ministry also plans to begin more public bus services between Thailand and Cambodia.
Thailand also plans to hold talks with Cambodian authorities this month over increasing the number of buses and trucks that are allowed to enter Cambodia from 40 to 500 on a daily basis.
Plans are also afoot to develop joint public bus services from Thailand to Laos and Vietnam to serve the regional tourism industry, Mr Phongchai said.
He also ordered the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning to work on a scheme to improve more than 190 public bus routes in Bangkok under the city transport improvement plan.
Mr Pongchai said the plan seeks to link up the public transit system with new train system lines and water transportation services to better serve city commuters.
Meanwhile, Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) board chairman Yodyuth Boonyatikarn said a bidding panel had negotiated price reductions with contractors for developing the Green Line subway extension (Mor Chit-Saphan Mai-Kukot) covering a distance of 19.5km.
The project is divided into four contracts and all are open to bids.
A budget for the first contract involving infrastructure development from Mor Chit to Saphan Mai, covering a distance of 12km, was reduced from 15.423 billion to 15.269 billion baht, according to Gen Yodyuth.
A budget for the second contract on infrastructure development from Saphan Mai to Kukot, covering 7.5km was reduced from 6.738 billion baht to 6.657 billion baht.
The third contract's budget involving the development of maintenance facilities and parking buildings was reduced from 4.079 billion baht to 4.019 billion baht.
A budget for the fourth contract involving rail system design was reduced from 2.869 billion to 2.841 billion baht.