BANGKOK, Oct 24 (TNA) – A consortium led by giant
conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) has signed a deal to build the
224-billion-baht rail system linking three major airports in Thailand.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha witnessed the agreement
signing between the consortium and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) at
Government House on Thursday.
The 220-kilometer rail line linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi
and U-Tapao airports is due to complete in 2023.
Prayut said at the signing ceremony that reaching the deal
marked an important milestone not only for the country’s infrastructure
development but also rural economic development.
According to the government, the construction of the rail
system is expected to create more than 16,000 jobs and 100,000 more in related
businesses in the next five years.
The high-speed rail line is one of the five megaprojects
linked with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.
Another project in the pipeline is the 290-billion-baht
Eastern Airport City Project located at U-tapao Airport in Chon Buri
province. The CP-led consortium is also
one of the bidders for the project development.(TNA)
