Bangkok:
Thailand's military government approved a massive budget to upgrade the country's railways including high-speed rail that would eventually link with China.
Transport Ministry permanent secretary Soithip Traisuth says the junta approved 741.46 billion baht ($23.3 billion) to build two high-speed train routes.
Similar plans by the government ousted in a May 22 military coup were scrapped by a court.
Soithip said construction of the two routes within Thailand will start in 2015 and should be completed by 2021.
Thailand will also expand dual-track railways.
The previous government passed a bill to borrow 2 trillion baht ($63 billion) to improve transport and water infrastructure but a court struck down the plan as unconstitutional.
The junta has been considering total spending of 3 trillion baht ($94 billion) on transport and other infrastructure.
Transport Ministry permanent secretary Soithip Traisuth says the junta approved 741.46 billion baht ($23.3 billion) to build two high-speed train routes.
Similar plans by the government ousted in a May 22 military coup were scrapped by a court.
Soithip said construction of the two routes within Thailand will start in 2015 and should be completed by 2021.
Thailand will also expand dual-track railways.
The previous government passed a bill to borrow 2 trillion baht ($63 billion) to improve transport and water infrastructure but a court struck down the plan as unconstitutional.
The junta has been considering total spending of 3 trillion baht ($94 billion) on transport and other infrastructure.
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