The Senate transport subcommittee yesterday told the Transport Ministry its railway development plan must maximise social and economic benefits to the country and focus on linking all routes together.
The subcommittee met with permanent-secretary Supoth Sublom to discuss the ministry's rail system upgrade plan.
The first part of the plan focuses on rehabilitating the State Railway of Thailand at a cost of Bt175 billion, which includes the improvement of rail infrastructure to provide better service. The second part aims at boosting the utilisation of SRT land, especially sites in the Phaholyothin area totalling 2,000 rai.
The subcommittee also urged the ministry to take into account the possible effect on the public from its transport projects, which should recognise the Constitution's protection of people's rights.
Chairman Suradej Jiratiticharoen said some mega projects such as the Kunming-Singapore railroad, which will pass many mountains and could harm some watershed areas, might draw opposition from communities. These kinds of projects need to hold a public hearing or they could face the same problems like those in Map Ta Phut.
Supoth said the ministry would work with state agencies in drawing up environmental measures for the projects, including a remedial plan, especially for those under the 2011 budget. The ministry will see which of the projects under the budget tend to have environmental impacts.
The projects under this year's budget would not be delayed. But for some projects next year, such as the Krabi-Trang or Pattalung-Trang routes that will cross watersheds, it would talk with state agencies to determine the possible environmental impact.