The confirmation of the request came from Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat during a meeting with Jeff Delmon, Senior Public Private Partnerships Specialist at the World Bank, on Tuesday (Dec 12)
The meeting was held to discuss Phuket’s ‘light rail’ project and the major road projects planned for the island. Mr Delmon, based in Singapore, has been with the World Bank 19 years. He describes his role as advisor to governments on attracting private investment in infrastructure, mobilising private capital (in particular local currency) for infrastructure, designing and implementing PPP projects and resolving challenges that arise in relation to PPP (Public Private Partnership) projects.
Present to explain to Mr Delmon the current status of the ‘light rail’ project was Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
The meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall was held in order for Mr Delmon and his delegation of World Bank associates to discuss issues related to the major transport infrastructure projects planned for the island with the heads of local agencies, said an official report of the meeting.
The World Bank has collaborated with Khon Kaen University. and the Area Development Fund Administration and Management Unit (PMU-A) in conducting a study of sustainable local economic development in Thailand, the official report said.
The focus of the study was on the development of public transportation, giving priority to the development of so-called ‘tram systems’ in Phuket, Rayong, Khon Kaen and Pattaya, the report added.
Announcements regarding any progress of the ‘light rail’ project have fallen silent since Phuket lost its bid to host the Specialised Expo 2027/28 in June.
Of note, former Governor of Phuket Narong Woonciew in July warned that Phuket losing the bid could affect the rollout of all the major transport infrastructure projects promised for Phuket.
After hearing the plan for the B35 billion ‘light rail’ project, Mr Delmon was told that the current status of the project was that the MRTA (Mass Rapid Transit Authority) based in Bangkok, which has been entrusted to roll out the project, had sent a letter to the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and planning (OTP) and the Ministry of Transport.
The letter was to request the latest details of the project, and to ask two issues to be added to the agenda of the next meeting of the Land Traffic System Organising Committee.
The first of the two issues asked to be raised was for the committee to assign the Department of Land Transport and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) to procure vehicles and operate them using an eBRT (electric Bus Rapid Transit) system where Phase 1 of the light rail project is to be built.
Phase 1 of the project covers 42 kilometres and entails installing double tracks and building 21 stations between Phuket International Airport and Chalong Circle.
The second issue asked to be added to the agenda of the next meeting of the Land Traffic System Organising Committee was to assign the Department of Highways to carry out the construction of major road infrastructure projects, with the MRTA supporting the design and cost estimation. Currently MRTA and the Ministry of Transport is responsible for the projects.
At the meeting, Mr Delmon and his associates were briefed on the current status of the major road infrastructure projects for Phuket, as follows:
Patong Tunnel
The project is under development by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT).
The project starts at Phra Metta Rd in Patong, with an elevated road with four traffic lanes per direction and an elevated crossing with Phisit Korani Rd. There will be a ‘double tunnel’ through the Nakkerd Hills.
On the Kathu side there will be an elevated road joining Route 4029. The road distance is 3.98km. Project investment value and ownership cost: B5.792 billion. Construction cost: B8.878bn. Total investment cost: B14.67bn.
Currently, EXAT is in the process of considering project implementation guidelines.
Muang Mai - Koh Kaew - Kathu Expressway
The project is under development by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT).
The project route (preliminary) starts at the intersection with Route 4026 in Tambon Thepkrasattri, with the route continuing to the south parallel to Route 402 (Thepkrasattri Rd) until it reaches Route 4024 (the bypass road) in Koh Kaew, where it will continue parallel to the bypass road until it reaches Route 4029 as the Kathu-Koh Kaew Expressway Project.
The total distance is approximately 30km. Project investment value (preliminary) and ownership cost: B17.054bn. Construction cost: B13.402bn. Total investment cost: B30,456bn.
Current status: EXAT is currently in the process of conducting a study of suitability in terms of engineering, economics, finance and environmental impact, and the design project’s detailed framework. The feasibility study began on April 1, 2022 with a period of 15 months and EXAT is expected to propose a budget for the year 2024 to study the PPP work.
Route 4027 expansion
The project, by the Department of Highways, is to increase Route 4027 to four lanes each way along the section of road between Baan Para in Pa Khlok and Muang Mai in Tambon Thepkrasattri. (See details here.)
Construction cost limit: B510 million.
Current status: Detailed design completed in 2020. Next step is to propose to set a budget.
Construction is expected to start in 2024, and the road project is expected to open for service in 2026.
Route 4027 Interchange
Construction project by the Department of Highways for a new ‘Route 4027 bypass’ (City Bypass) at the Muang Mai three-way intersection serving traffic heading to Phuket Airport.
Current Status: Detailed design completed in 2020. Expected to propose construction budget in 2025 and open for service in 2027.
Heroines Monument interchange
Interchange construction project by the Department of Highways at the intersection of Route 402 and Route 4027 (Tha Ruea Intersection, also called the Heroines Monument).
Construction cost limit: B2.38bn
Current status: A meeting of an expert committee considered the environmental impact assessment report on August 11, 2023, and resolved to amend the report.
The project is expected to receive approval in December 2023 (sic), with the proposed construction budget expected to be submitted for fiscal 2024 and the project to open for service in 2027.