5 Jun- Secretary-General of the EEC Confirmed that the establishment of the government will not affect the EEC. Moving forward according to the plan, investors continue to invest. Accepting the high-speed train project connecting 3 airports later than the plan from COVID and adjusting the contract must wait for the new cabinet to consider adjusting the budget.
Mr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EEC), revealed the progress of the development of the EEC area that now there are 4 projects being accelerated.
1. U-Tapao Airport Construction Project which is a joint venture between the state and private sectors The private sector operates the construction of the passenger terminal. and the state proceeds with the construction of airport runways There will be an invitation announcement around July '23, which the process is somewhat delayed. but will be completed as planned in 2027
2. Laem Chabang Port Construction Project Phase 3 to expand the port to accommodate more containers. from which it is scheduled to open in 2026, but there are obstacles in the construction about sea reclamation causing it to be delayed by about 1 year from the plan
3. Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Construction Project Support for LNG transport ships which will be used in the production of electric power The sea has now been reclamed. The construction is going according to plan. Scheduled to open in 2027
4. The high-speed train project connecting 3 airports Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao has been delayed due to the COVID situation and the change in private sector contracts connecting each airport. which is currently still under negotiation Which must have a discussion about adjusting the budget limit and must be taken into consideration in the Cabinet which must wait for the new government Causing the construction plan to be completed and ready to open for service within the year 2027-2028, this time has been delayed for about 1 year.
for the problems that arise It was found that the high-speed train system There will be a part connecting Don Mueang Airport - Bang Sue, Bang Sue - Phaya Thai - Suvarnabhumi. It was found that some of the boundary areas overlap with the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project. may need to adjust some construction plans In the past, there have been efforts to work in order not to be duplicated. While the delivery area during Bang Sue - Phaya Thai, which still has problems with clearing oil pipelines in order to proceed with the construction As for the airport link route Phaya Thai - Suvarnabhumi to U-Tapao There is currently no problem. Most of the old railway line is used. But in the curve section, additional areas have been expropriated to adjust the route to accommodate the speed of the train. Including the construction of additional stations
The secretary-general of the EEC also discussed the progress of the drone development project to be used in the EEC area to transport small parcels. Currently, the project has begun trials in the sandbox area at the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation or EECi, Wang Chan Valley, Rayong Province since last year. There were both government agencies and private sectors participating, with Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co., Ltd. responsible for air traffic management. between drones and planes which will have different flying ceiling levels
While Mr. Noppasit Chakpitak, President of the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Company Limited (AEROTHAI), said that the EEC area targeting is an aviation city. The goal is to use unmanned aerial systems or drones to transport both people and parcels. In order to become a complete aviation city in the future, AEROTHAI will manage air traffic management. To be as complete and safe as possible.-Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agency