Chai Watcharong, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, yesterday (Apr 17) revealed the itinerary for PM Srettha’s visit to Phuket, which will mainly focus on updates to construction projects aimed at alleviating Phuket’s traffic congestion.
Joining PM Srettha, who also holds the office of Minister of Finance, will be Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Ministry of Transport Permanent Secretary Chayatan Phromsorn.
Also joining the entourage will be Phongsaran Asavachaisophon, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE); and former Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Chatchai Promlert, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of PTT Public Company Limited.
But also joining the official visit will be Pol Gen Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, who is currently serving as the Acting National Police Commissioner.
PM Srettha and the high-ranking officials will depart from Military Airport 2 at Don Mueang in Bangkok at about 9am and land at Phuket International Airport to join a meeting at the airport at 10:30am.
At the meeting, PM Srettha is to be briefed on the current status of the road project to upgrade and expand Route 4027, which runs through Pa Khlok. The update is to include the road expansion to four lanes and what is happening with the elevated interchange at the northern end of Route 4027 where route 4027 joins Thepkrasattri Rd.
PM Srettha is also to be briefed on what has been called the “new Sarasin Bridge project”, Mr Chai said, though no details on the project itself were provided.
PM Srettha will then travel to Region 8 Police headquarters, located near the Phuket Check Point at Tha Chatchai, to be briefed on the performance of the police in the area.
The issues on the agenda to covered were given as:
1) solving the drug problem,
2) solving the problem of informal debt, and resolving debt;
3) resolving gambling the problem of online gambling and foreign mafia;
4) tightening restrictions on venues selling alcohol “that are similar to service establishments”;
5) tightening efforts to resolve the problem of illegal immigration; and
6) solving the problem of housing for police officers.
Following the meeting with police, PM Srettha and his entourage will travel to the site where the Route 4027 interchange is to be built and visit the Heroines Monument to assess the traffic situation there.
He will also see firsthand the perpetual traffic delays at the Koh Kaew Intersection and the U-Turn points just south of the Heroines Monument.
PM Srettha and his entourage will then return to Bangkok, with his team expected to land at Don Mueang at about 4:40pm.
However, the schedule is subject to change as necessary, Mr Chai said.