SRT to seek bigger budget for double-track project

       The State Railway of Thailand plans to seek more funds soon for the double-track Kaeng Koi-Klong 19-Chachoengsao project.
       "The SRT will propose to the transport minister to consider the increased budget first before seeking Cabinet approval," SRT Governor Yuthana Thapcharoen said yesterday.
       The 106-kilometre route is part of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning's three-part development stretegy and 20 projects worth Bt350 billion designed to improve rail transport eficiency.
       The SRT has increased the estimated construction cost for the route from Bt7.65 billion to Bt10 billion after completing its feasibility study.
       The route would be extended to avoid passing near the Phra Phutthachai Temple located in Kaeng Koi.
       After the Kaeng Koi-Khlong 19-Chachoengsao route is expanded from single track to paralkel tracks, freight capacity is expected to more than double from 28 trains daily to 60 daily or from 250,000 tonnes of freight per year to 570,000 tonnes of freight per year.
       The SRT would seek approval for Bt5 billion in working capital loans from the Cabinet meeting today.
       Previously, the authority received approval for loans with the same liquidity purpose of a total of more than Bt5 billion.
       For the double-track Chachoengsao-Sri Racha-Laem Chabang route, construction has been delayed more than 40 per cent as expected.
       However, the SRT has assigned agencies to speed up the contractor, TSC Joint Venture, to complete the construction by the due date.
       The route is 78 kilometres long with a construction budget of Bt3.93 billion, he added.