Meanwhile, many directors of boards directed by the ministry, including the State Railway of Thailand, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand and Thai Airways International, have submitted their letters of resignation pending selection of new directors by the new government.

Sansern said the mega-projects under the supervision of the ministry, especially electric rail routes and logistics projects, were expected to start being constructed if the budget of 2007 is approved by the National Legislative Assembly.

He said a panel would be set up for coordinating with the government in a bid to make its policy on the mega-projects compatible. Currently, he has called a meeting with participants to consider the studied projects.

The first two rail route projects expected to be built as a priority include the Purple Line linking Bang Yai to Bang Sue and the Blue Line from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae.

The two lines are under the supervision of the MRTA.

Sansern said the ministry had given the MRTA authority to proceed in hiring the project management consultants with a budget of Bt1.55 billion and consultants for civil engineering works with a budget of Bt2.58 billion, plus a budget for preparing plots of land for the Purple Line of not more than Bt4.12 billion.

The budget for the Blue Line is set at not more than Bt10.16 billion.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation