Bangkok--8 May--BrainAsia Communication
To be ready forASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and Thailand ‘s strategic location as the hubs of commerce, transportation and investments; SMEs and Thai people need to be prepared and developed themselves to gain maximum advantage. The Organizing Committee of ‘Insight AEC' which is the Expo of AEC opportunities in the new market of 600 million consumers to be held on 10 -13 October 2013 ; in cooperation with Thansettakij organized the seminar on "Transportation Link and Urban Development Trend" at Vibhawadi Ballroom, Sofitel Centara Ladprao Hotel, Bangkok, sponsored by Chor Kanchang, Property Perfect, Summakorn, LG, and Kampangwiwat Construction. Seven gurus from leading organizations were invited to pinpoint the new transportations network and urban developments in Thailand for stepping to AEC.
Dr.Chula Sukmanop, Director General, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), said in his presentation on ‘Public Transport Development Plan for Growing Cities’ that the future of public transport either on land, air, and water will be transformed with new technology to increase its potential and network both domestic and international. The integration and collaboration among government departments is needed to help sustainable development, create business and open production opportunities in areas along the routes including upgrade the economic potential in the cities along the borders. OPT is working on designing transport network and Skytrain projects linked between Bangsue and Morchit stations. OTP initially negotiated with State Railway of Thailand to move its head office from Hualampong station and Transportation Ministry from Ratchadamnoen Avenue to Bangsue where it becomes the transport hub in Bangkok to facilitate passengers and develop as a new business area. The new station in Bangsue will replace Hualampong to support future skytrains and high speed trains. OTP is surveying four routes of new high speed trains: Bangkok-Pitsanulok, Bangkok-Nakorn Ratchasima, Bangkok-Huahin and Bangkok-Pattaya-Mabtaput sea port. The survey is expected to finish by June 2013, then in October 2013 will offer Thai and foreign companies to bid on technology. The high-speed train will generate growth and energy saving to cities and will be an alternative choice of travelling. It will also complete with aviation especially in the 500-1,000 kilometers. These projects will release overcrowded road in big cities by offering people to stay in outskirts of Bangkok and using public transport going to work and do business in the city more rapidly.
Mr.Woradet Hanprasert, Director General, Department of Civil Aviation has presented on topic ‘From Metropolitan to New Emerging City: Expanded Aviation Link’ that strategy plan and new route developing concept will response to country’s domestic and international economic development. The businesses, industry, and tourism would gain tremendous advantage by reducing cost of production. “Now Thailand has opened aviation to ASEAN and will expand to other regions in the near future to connect international routes. At present, we have 38 airports around the country and five more airports have been constructing: in Beatong, Ubon Ratchathani, Udornthani, Krabi and Narathiwat. All airports will support air freight and travelling. Thailand would be an aviation hub in ASEAN and being a great potential in tourism, “he added.
Mr.Chaiwat Uthaiwan, Managing Director, Bangkok Metro Company Limited (BMCL) mentioned that BMCL is ready for concession contract in purple line of skytrain from Bangyai — Bangsue in April 2013 with Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). Now MRTA is working with Krungthai Bank on a loan and negotiating with Chor Kanchang Co.LTD, for civil work contract. For the next phase of Blue Line Hualampong-Ta Pra, Ta Pra-Tao Pun, and Bangsue-Tao Pun, BMCL is ready to work with the committee of Public — Private Partnership Act which they believe would subsidy investment in order to reduce cost and finish up public service as soon as possible.
Mr.Ek Sitthivakin, chief of Policy and R & D Plan, State Railway of Thailand, said that presently, the 4,034 kilometers railway covering 47 provinces are single way about 89.5%, two-way rail about 8% and three-way rail about 2.5%. The Red Line will be a prototype of city expansion using main routes link to parts of the country such as Bangsue-Talingchun, Bangsue-Rangsit-Thammasat University that links to Baan Pachi, Chachoengsao, Ratchaburi, including connect to the new railway road to ASEAN at Chachoengsao, Nakorn Prathom, which definitely created economic growth to suburb cities.
Mr.Sinthop Sirising, Deputy Director of Express and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (ETA) said “Even though the growth rate of express way is less than skytrain, the construction of express way is necessary in some areas in order to increase routes and disperse crowded roads. ETA has projects to construct express way at Rama 9 (2), Tunnel at Patong Beach and Kasetsart University which is opposed by public. However, ETA continued to improve for better service with automatic system like Easy Pass”.
Mr.Preecha Ronarong, City Planning expertise, Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) said “We had sent paper to provincial bureau to improve its city structure in compliance with the country’s transportation development plan to construct four routes of high speed train. DPT is surveying new routes while improving the existing routes and constructing railway tracks around the country in order to have maximum use of each individual local land along the planning route since some areas need to be expropriated. To adjust the city structure, it could help reducing the affect and use utmost benefit of land. Now Chiangmai is the only province that has been done and waiting for judicial council to inspect. For Bangkok city plan, the revised version will be implemented on 15 May , 2013 which support for all 10 routes of high speed train project.
Mr.Kittipol Pramoch Na Ayudhaya, Thai Property Association Chairman, commented “The numbers of request for construction license for vertical residence classification or condominium in provinces is increasing while in Bangkok is reducing. In the next 5-10 years the number of condominium in provinces will be increased more than in Bangkok, especially in Rayong, Chiangmai, Khonkaen, Nakorn Ratchasima, Songkla and Phuket. The trend of property development will conform to city development and expansion of transport network.