Construction of the light rail line in Phuket will begin in 2020 and be completed "around 2023." Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew made the announcement on August 29, according to Phuket News.
The governor's statement was made at a meeting organized by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), which is implementing the Phuket light rail project. Construction is expected to cost 39.4 billion baht.
According to Vice Governor Kongkaew, the project is currently finalizing the parameters of the public-private partnership that will be used to construct the railway. The estimated construction timeframe is from 2020 to 2023.
Once the railway line from Phuket International Airport to the Chalong roundabout is completed, construction will move on to the second phase of the project, which includes extending the track to Tha Noon in Phang Nga Province. This is the first settlement beyond the bridge connecting Phuket to the mainland. There had previously been speculation that the Phuket railway would be integrated into Thailand's existing railway network in some way.
"We gathered today to listen to the opinions of representatives of various government agencies and local government leaders to ensure that the project will meet its stated goals," the vice governor said.
Mr. Kongkaew noted that the project is expected to stimulate the development of tourism and the economy as a whole, as well as improve the traffic situation in Phuket.
Source: trn-news.ru