The Thai Cabinet has approved the construction of the Orange Line of the MRT subway, as well as an action plan for the development of U-Tapao Airport in Chonburi Province as the country’s newest commercial airport.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Major General Weerachon Sukhontapatipak made the announcement following the weekly cabinet meeting, saying approval was granted for the MRT Orange Line construction project.
The new Orange line will link with the existing Blue Line, running from the Thailand Cultural Center to Minburi – a total distance of 21.2 kilometers. The new line will feature 17 stations, seven of which will be elevated and ten will be located underground.
The cabinet also gave the green light to an action plan for U-Tapao Airport, which is aimed to upgrade facilities and enable it to become the third main commercial airport in Thailand. The action plan will be carried out in three phases between 2015 and 2020.
As a result of the development project, U-Tapao Airport is expected to be capable of handling more than three million travelers each year. The facility will also help prepare Thailand for the growth of aviation in the region as the ASEAN Community opens at the end of this month.