Supervisory committees will be set up to supervise the construction of the high-speed rail network linking three key airports and other infrastructure projects in the government’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to ensure that development meets international standards.

On Tuesday, the EEC Office’s proposal to form the committees won cabinet endorsement.

The supervisory committees will be chaired by the EEC Office’s senior-ranking officials, with members coming from related agencies that have direct ownership of the projects, as well as outside experts.

According to EEC Office secretary-general Kanit Sangsubhan, the proposals are in line with the approval of the EEC Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

At the May 13 meeting, the committee ordered the EEC Office to create supervisory committees to supervise development of main infrastructure projects in the EEC.

The EEC Office was also told to hire a consortium with expertise on each infrastructure project to help the supervising committee ensure standards.

The consortium is open to both international and local companies.

The supervising committee to monitor high-speed rail project linking Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao airports will convene first, after the State Railway of Thailand signs a contract with the winning consortium led by Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group.

Mr Kanit said the high-speed rail project linking the airports is undergoing an environmental impact assessment.

On May 28, the cabinet approved a draft joint venture contract for the 225-billion-baht high-speed train development project linking the three airports.

The CP Group-led consortium comprises China Railway Construction Corporation, Bangkok Expressway and Metro, Italian-Thai Development, Ch. Karnchang, Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp for Transport and Urban Development, Citic Group, Siemens, Hyundai and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The SRT and the consortium are scheduled to sign the contract later this month or early next month.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1698276/eec-office-supervisory-committees-get-approval