The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has been directed to accelerate the disbursement of its 53-billion-baht budget for the 2026 fiscal year, with priority given to two major bridge projects in the southern region aimed at reducing travel time, improving safety, and boosting the regional economy.
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the acceleration follows Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s directive for all ministries to speed up budget spending over the next four months to stimulate economic activity.
He said the department aims to disburse at least 50% of its budget, or around 25 billion baht, by the second quarter of the fiscal year, focusing particularly on projects supporting the transport of agricultural goods from communities to urban markets.
According to Mr Phiphat, two key investment projects worth 6.5 billion baht are being prioritised this year — the 4.84 billion baht Songkhla Lake Bridge linking Krasae Sin district in Songkhla with Phatthalung’s Khao Chaison district and the Koh Lanta Bridge in Krabi province valued at 1.85 billion baht.
He said that funding for both projects will come from World Bank loans (70%) and state funds (30%), and four companies have submitted their proposals for each of the projects. Technical evaluations have been submitted for World Bank review and are expected to be completed next week, he added.
While waiting for the World Bank’s assessment, the department would submit information to the Public Debt Management Office to prepare for loan procedures, he said, adding contracts for both projects are expected to be signed by the end of this year.
On the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) infrastructure project connecting the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (Land Bridge mega-project), Mr Phiphat said the related SEC Bill is expected to be submitted to parliament when the new session opens on Dec 12.