THAILAND has postponed until March its construction work on the US$5 billion first phase of a railway project being built jointly with China, the Southeast Asian nation’s transport minister said Friday. The 873km rail line, work on which was expected to have started this month, is eventually intended to link Thailand’s border with Laos to eastern ports and industrial zones. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the work was delayed because Thai government officials are still reviewing various railway designs submitted by China. “According to the current plans, we have set this to March. If the designs aren’t complete, and the contract isn’t finalized, then we can’t start the construction,” Arkhom said. The first phase, costing 179 billion baht (US$5 billion), centers on 250km of track to link the Thai capital of Bangkok to the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima. China and Thailand have been discussing the project for years, but agreed on its framework only in September, after months of sometimes tense negotiations. (SD-Agencies) |