On 26 November 2020, Mr. Chayatan Phromsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, chaired the witnessing of the signing ceremony of the Integrity Pact for five civil works construction contracts of the Project on the Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Bangkok–Nong Khai HSR Development for Regional Connectivity (Section 1: Bangkok–Nakhon Ratchasima) at the Building of Club and Auditorium of the Ministry of Transport. These five contracts were signed between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) represented by its Governor Mr. Nirut Maneephan, and five contract parties, which are Nawarat Patanakarn Public Company Limited represented by Mr. Polpat Karnasuta, Chief Executive Officer (Contract 3-2); Thai Engineers and Industry Company Limited represented by Mr. Suthiphan Kosaipolkul, Managing Director (Contract 3-3); Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited represented by Mr. Sumate Surabotsopon, Senior Executive Vice President (Contract 3-4); SPTK Joint Venture Company Limited represented by Mr. Atthasit Damrongrat, Chief Executive Officer (Contract 3-5); and Civil Engineering Public Company Limited represented by Mr. Piyadit Atsavasirisuk, Chief Executive Officer (Contract 4-7). The witnesses included Mr. Athirat Rattanaseth, Deputy Minister of Transport; Mr. Wirat Pimpanit, Advisor to the Minister of Transport; Mr. Anon Luangboriboon and Mr. Pisak Jitwiriyawasin, Deputy Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Transport; Mr. Sorapong Paitoonpong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Acting Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport; Mr. Jirut Wisanjit, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport and Chairman of the Board, Director and Executive of the SRT; and members of the media.
At the ceremony, Mr. Chayatan Phromsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, said that the Thai government led by Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha had placed priority on the project and constantly monitored its progress. This cooperation project will develop an important strategic rail route that linked Thailand to Lao PDR, China and the rest of the world as It will be part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The project will also help to strengthen relationship between Thailand and China. In this regard, the Ministry of Transport strives to accelerate the project’s completion. Previously, the SRT signed Contract 2-3: Railway System, Mechanical and Electrical Systems, Procurement of Rolling Stocks, and Personnel Training for the project on 28 October 2020.
The five civil works construction contracts that have been signed today are:
- Contract 3-2: Construction of railway tunnels at Muak Lek and Lam Takhong, which will be carried out by Nawarat Patanakarn Public Company Limited. This contract covers construction of two tunnels with a combined length of eight kilometers and a 12.23-kilometer railway section.
- Contract 3-3: Construction of the Bandai Ma–Lam Takhong section, which will be carried out by Thai Engineers and Industry Company Limited. The contract covers construction of Pak Chong Station and a 26.10-kilometer railway section.
- Contract 3-4: Construction of the Lam Takhong–Sikhio section and Kut Chik–Khok Kruat section, which will be carried out by Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited. The contract covers construction of the project’s longest railway section, with a total distance of 37.45 kilometers.
- Contract 3-5: Construction of the Khok Kruat–Nakhon Ratchasima section, which will be carried out by SPTK Joint Venture Company Limited (which consists of Npa Construction Company Limited from Thailand and Tim Sekata Sdn. Bhd. and Bina Puri Construction Sdn. Bhd. from Malaysia). The contract covers construction of Nakhon Ratchasima Station and a 12.38-kilometer railway section.
- Contract 4-7: Construction of the Saraburi–Kaeng Khoi section, which will be carried out by Civil Engineering Public Company Limited. The contract covers construction of Saraburi Station and a 12.99-kilometer railway section.
These five contracts account for a combined length of 101.15-kilometer railway at a total construction cost of 40,275 million baht. When the project is completed, Thai railway standards will be enhanced. It is an investment to establish a strong foundation for Thailand’s transportation infrastructure in a long term. This will help to promote Thailand as a regional transportation and logistics hub where the window of opportunities is opened up for business, investment and tourism. Last but not least, development will be ushered towards communities adjacent to the project’s route.
