Director Sunida Skulratana said the authority had dropped its plans for the complex, which would have been located on 335 rai of land at Klong Toei Port. The project was the brainchild of the Thaksin government and would have allowed investment by the private sector.

"In abandoning these plans, the authority would like to expand the port area to serve as many as 1.5 million containers, up from the fewer than 1 million previously agreed with the Transport Ministry," said Sunida, adding that the ministry was currently considering approval of the expansion.

Sunida said the Port Authority also cancelled the bidding for private firms wanting to lease 100-rai commercial areas surrounding its headquarters. However, the project will continue under terms of reference that are revised to be more attractive to the private sector.

Sunida said that at the upcoming authority's board meeting this month, management would submit for reconsideration the purchase of several locomotives for a total of Bt420 million.

The government has recommended the Port Authority enter into a joint venture with the State Railway of Thailand and other private firms to provide a one-stop logistics service.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation