Bangkok--22 Oct--MOF
Ministry of Transport arranged the dialogue session to create awareness and participate in public hearing session on the transport infrastructure investment plan 2013-2020 to create sense of participation and to survey opinions of the related people and the stakeholders of all sectors including to create awareness and understanding on the abovementioned investment plan. In addition, the results from the opinions survey shall be used to analyze the problems and opportunities of the projects under such investment plan.
Mr. Surachet Chaikosol, Secretary of the Minister of Transport and Police General Wichian Phojposri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, presided over the “Public Relations Project to Create Awareness and Participate in the Public Hearing Session on the Transport Infrastructure Investment Plan 2013-2020”. The people joined the dialogue session included the representatives from the Department of Highways, Department Rural Roads, Marine Department and the State Railway of Thailand and the experts from the educational institutes. There is also a speech on the preparation of transport infrastructure investment plan 2013-2020 by the experts from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning. More than 500 people participated in this event which included the executives from the Ministry of Transport, chiefs of the agencies under the Ministry of Transport, the academicians, the entrepreneurs as well as people from the private and public sectors and the stakeholders. This event was held on Monday 15th October 2012 at the Convention hall A, Ambassador Hotel, Chonburi.
The objectives of this session were to create sense of participation, awareness, understanding and to survey opinions of the related people and the stakeholders of all sectors on the abovementioned investment plan so that the public can coordinate with the operation works pursuant to the investment plan of the national mega project. Additionally, the summary report on opinions and recommendations of the people in each area with regards to this investment plan shall be prepared and used as the supporting documents for preparation of the draft national infrastructural investment act.
Mr. Surachet Chaikosol Secretary of the Minister of Transport said that the government has made a policy statement to the parliament on August 23, 2011 by emphasizing the operations of the Ministry of Transport, for instance the development of transport infrastructure systems, acceleration of 10 electric train projects with service fees at 20 Baht throughout the line, development of marine transportation and merchant marine business including international airports, regional airports and Thai aviation industry as well as plans to support the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Hence, the Ministry of Transport has prepared the transport infrastructure investment plan with the investment budget of 2 trillion Baht to be used as framework to prepare readiness and support strategic plan, lay out foundation and build the future of the country in the long-term. These plans covered roads, rails, water and air transport to support the economic growth in the next 10-15 years which shall be beneficial to the competitiveness of the country. Such infrastructure investment plans are the long-term projects which have impacts to the people in all sectors. Consequently, the operations pursuant to the such investment plans are required to create awareness, understanding, participation and wakefulness of the people in the area to elevate their interests with regards to the national mega projects as well as to survey opinions of the relevant people and the stakeholders of all sectors concerning the investment plans which shall be taken place in each region.
Police General Wichian Phojposri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, also added that the reason that this session was held in Chonburi because it is one of the provinces in the eastern region. In addition, as the Ministry of Transport places importance on development of the infrastructures in the provinces in this region, so it is necessary to have the transport infrastructure development to solve the transport problems and to support and promote tourism business of the provinces in the eastern region. Such developments shall have impact to the economic and the quality of life of the people, for instance, the improvement of Highway No. 304 (Minburi-Chachoengsao), the 3rd Outer Ring Highway, the construction project of dual track system of Chachoengsao-Klong Sipgao-Gangkoi, the airport rail link project to connect from Suvarnabhumi Airport-Chonburi-Pattaya-Rayong, the Laem Chabang Port Development Project — Phase 3, the rail container transportation center at Laem Chabang Port, the project to improve unsafe rail lines and etc.