Thailand’s Cabinet on January 5 approved a draft law for expropriation of land to build the 336km Northeast railway between Khon Kaen and Nakhon Phanom.
The plan hands the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) a budget of 10 billion baht ($334 million) to requisition land along the route linking Ban Phai in Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom.
The Cabinet has approved a total budget of 66.84 billion baht for the project, which includes expropriation expenses.
Residents whose homes are expropriated will be compensated with affordable rental housing at an eight-storey project of 360 units on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road in Don Mueang district, Bangkok. Construction of the project is due to begin in April next year for scheduled opening in October 2022.
The SRT will negotiate compensation payments for households who do not take up the affordable housing option.
Separately, the Cabinet heard performance results from the SRT and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) bus agency for fiscal year 2019 and the first half of 2020.
The SRT reported a loss of 2.893 billion baht in 2019 and 1.494 billion baht in the first half of 2020. The BMTA reported losses of 2.255 billion baht and 996 million baht, respectively, for the two periods.
THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK