Road damage ‘around B25bn’
BUSINESS: While many roads in Phuket have been damaged as the result of rains and landslips in the past month, that’s nothing compared with the damage in flood-hit parts of central Thailand.
Friday 28 October 2011, 06:21PM
The Ministry of Transport has predicted that as much as B25 billion may be needed for the repair of flood-damaged roads and highways there.
In the meantime, urgent efforts are being made to reestablish transport routes hit by the flooding, which has resulted in partial paralysis of Thailand’s distribution network, a paralysis that is having a effect – so far limited – as far away as Phuket.
Permanent Secretary for Transport Supoj Saplom insisted that authorities were striving to save the transportation system from being hit by the floods.
According to Mr Supoj, 80 roads under the supervision of the Department of Highways have been reported damage by the floods, and 200 under the supervision of the Department of Rural Roads.
He said repair work would be begin immediately after the floods had subsided.
An initial budget of B1 billion is expected to be spent on reopening the flooded roads for traffic, while a further B20-25 billion may be required for their complete restoration.
