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Volume 10 issue 11 Septemberr 2013
Volume 10 Issue 11 September 2013
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ransport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt insists Sale/Home Loan 2013 at in Bangkok’s Queen the planned Bangkok-Hua Hin high-speed Sirikit National Convention Center. train route will go ahead despite warnings it is “We remain firm on the development plan.” not worth the investment cost. The Yingluck Shinawatra government wants to “The Hua Hin route is the only way connecting build four high-speed train lines from Bangkok to the Thai-Malaysian border, at Padang Besar in upcountry as part of a 2-trillion-baht infrastructure Songkhla province,” he said yesterday on the investment. sidelines of the Home Buyers’ Expo/NPA Grand The high-speed projects would be built in phases, with only the Rayong-Pattaya route likely to be finished in one stage.
A study by a consultancy hired by the government showed the Bangkok-Hua Hin route would see an economic rate of return (ERR) of 10.7%, less than the 12% benchmark set by the Transport Ministry.
Construction of the first phase of the four routes _ Bangkok-Phitsanulok, Bangkok-Hua Hin, Bangkok-Rayong and Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima _ would be completed by 2019. The Bangkok-Hua Hin route would stretch 225 kilometres at a cost of 82 billion baht.
Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, said if the route is not worth the investment, the ministry should invest in other routes instead.
But Mr Chadchart said the route would see a higher ERR if the development extended to Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon or farther.
In June, MR Pridiyathorn Devakula called on the government to cancel its planned development of four high-speed rail routes, arguing they would not be worth the cost. The former Bank of Thailand governor referred to a study that said some routes would need as many as 41,000 passengers a day or 15 million a year to break even, totals that exceed domestic airline passengers at the moment. High-
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speed train fares would likely exceed those of lowcost airlines even though it is faster to fly. Regardless, a draft authorising borrowing to fund the 2-trillion-baht scheme is set for parliamentary deliberation. Picture: Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt is adamant the planned Bangkok- Hua Hin highspeed train route remains on target despite dire warnings about its investment cost. SOMCHAI POOMLA Courtesy of : http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/ transport/365963/chadchart-firm-on-hua-hinroute.
he Governor of Prachuab Khirikhan, along with the Deputy Governor, has called for a meeting with a committee on traffic problem solution in Hua Hin, staff of the Hua Hin railway, traffic police, tourist police and the media to discuss about urgent plans to solve traffic problems in Hua Hin.
were asked to monitor and prosecute those violating the law. In terms of parking cars or motorcycles at the footpath, a regulation of parking was imposed. Moreover, one more turning point for cars between Ban Hua Na and Minitel Hotel in front of the local office of electricity generating authority was approved because it can solve traffic problem effectively.
According to the Prachuab Governor Mr. Weera Sriwattanatrakul, the meeting agenda focuses on traffic problems during rush hours, holidays and weekends as well as ‘footpath seizure’ by some street vendors or taxi drivers. These problems reportedly affect people in Hua Hin and tourists.
Mr. Weera added that all the programs to solve traffic problem proposed by public authorities should be monitored by the media who will help make announcement to the public. In terms of a one-way route on Sra Song and Damnern Kasem Roads, Mr. Weera said he agreed with it, but representatives of Hua Hin Municipal Council and local community should acknowledge this plan. Moreover, before launching the plan, a public hearing should take place and stakeholders will be invited for further discussion.
At present, many streets of Hua Hin are scattered by signboards, billboards, rubber cones and tree branches. The more the streets are obstructed, the worse the traffic in Hua Hin will become. To make things more complicated, some street vendors are taking over footpaths as their own to do business. Also, some shops along the streets have roofs so long that, when it rains, Finally, the Prachuab governor would like Hua Hin municipal executives to the rainwater falls down from the roof, making pedestrians unable to walk think about how to deal with urban growth in the near future by formulating on the footpath conveniently. To solve the problems, municipal officials a city plan in the center and outskirt of Hua Hin.