Bangkok--14 Nov--Core & Peak
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 survey opinions of the related people and the stakeholders of all sectors including create awareness and understanding on the abovementioned investment plan in order to develop the transport infrastructure, logistics system and support the economic growth of the northern region as well as prepare readiness for participation in ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
Mrs. Soithip Trisuddhi, Deputy 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” on Friday 9th November 2012 at Topland Hotel, Phitsanulok. There were approximately 500 people participated in this event which included the executives from the Ministry of Transport and the agencies under the Ministry of Transport, chiefs of the agencies from both public and private sectors in lower part of the northern region, such as Phitsanulok, Tak, Sukhothai, Pichit, Kampaengpetch, Nakhon Sawan and Uthai Thani, as well as the Members of the Parliament, the Chief Executives of the Provincial Administrative Organization, the Chief Executives of the Sub-district Administrative Organization and etc.
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. There were also discussions on the following topics:
- Lecture on the “Preparation of the Transport Infrastructure Investment Plan 2013-2020” by the experts from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, and
- Discussion on the “Development of Infrastructure and Prosperity of the Locality” by the representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Department of Highways, Department of Rural Roads, Department of Land Transport, the State Railway of Thailand and the experts from the educational institutes in the northern region.
Mrs. Soithip said after the discussions 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 participation in 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.
Mrs. Soithip also added that the reason that this session was held in Phitsanulok because the government and the Ministry of Transport place importance on economical growth in the lower part of the northern region. Additionally, Phitsanulok is an important province with economical and tourism significance and it is also regarded as the important route to the upper part of the northern region. Hence, the government and the Ministry of Transport have pushed for and realized many vital projects, such as the intercity special highways projects, i.e. Bang Pa-In-Saraburi, Bangyai-Nakhon Pathom-Karnchanaburi and Bang Pa In-Nakhon Sawan, the construction of goods transport transformation center at Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai, the development plan for goods transportation stations, the high speed train projects for the route of Bangkok-Phitsanulok-Chiang Mai, the construction project of new railway in the northern region during Denchai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong, the construction project of the elevated dam in Chao Phraya River and Nan River for maritime transportation/navigation, the construction project of the 2nd Chiang Kong port in Chiang Rai, the project to increase efficiency of aviation traffic system/technology and the development of connecting system of aviation traffic management throughout the country.