At the meeting, at Phuket Provincial Hall, were key officials in attendance, including Pichet Kongsri, Chairman of EXAT’s Legal Subcommittee, and Kulkanya Tumsen, EXAT Deputy Governor (Law).
The ‘Phuket Expressway Project’, aimed at addressing traffic congestion and boosting the island’s tourism appeal, is being developed in two phases, explained an official report of the meeting.
Phase 1 (Kathu-Patong Section): Spanning 3.9 kilometres, this section involves an investment of B16.76 billion, comprising B5.79bn for land acquisition and B10.96bn for construction.
Land acquisition is underway, and the project’s investment model is expected to be finalised and approved by the Cabinet by the end of 2024, said the report.
Phase 2 (Muang Mai-Koh Kaeo-Kathu Section): A 30.62km stretch of elevated expressway with an estimated budget of B45.87bn, comprising B22.35bn for land acquisition and B23.52bn for construction. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is in progress and will soon be submitted to the National Environment Board (NEB), the report said.
When completed, the expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time and distance between Phuket Airport and Patong Beach.
“The route will shorten the journey from 35km to 28km and cut travel time from 90 minutes to just 20 minutes,” noted the report.
“The project aims to alleviate severe traffic congestion, enhance the quality of life for residents, and strengthen Phuket’s tourism infrastructure,” the report added.
Governor Sophon expressed gratitude to EXAT for prioritising the project, stating, “This expressway will play a crucial role in solving Phuket’s traffic challenges and supporting the province’s overall development.”
Mr Pichet reaffirmed EXAT’s commitment to advancing infrastructure in Phuket, emphasising the project’s long-term benefits for the island’s sustainability and global image as a premier tourist destination.
STOP-START
Originally, the project ‒ proposed for decades before any action was taken ‒ was to be developed as a single project through a public-private partnership (PPP).
However, due to a lack of interest from the private sector during the bidding process in April 2023, with the project receiving no bids from contractors, EXAT proposed to the Ministry of Transport to revise the investment plan, allowing EXAT to take full control of the funding and construction.
Instead of revising the project into two set of wholly revised plans, and budgets and going through the bidding process again, EXAT in August this year sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Transport, stating that any adjustments to the tunnel design would require a complete reassessment of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, a process that could delay the project by at least one year.
To avoid such delays, EXAT decided to self-finance the project, with an estimated budget of B16 billion, it was announced at the time.
The decision came despite recommendations from the Ministry of Transport to consider modifications that could lower construction costs and enhance safety, noted a brief report posted online by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP).
FORWARD MOTION
At its 52nd anniversary celebrations on Nov 27, EXAT specifically mentioned as a point of pride among its current projects, “There is also a plan to expand expressway routes to various regions, including the Phuket Expressway Project, Phase 1 (Kathu-Patong Section) and Phase 2 (Muang Mai-Koh Kaew-Kathu Section),”
Just over a month earlier, on Oct 15, Governor Sophon and Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob welcomed a delegation from EXAT sent to Phuket, led by Ms Kulkanlaya, to further discuss the project’s plans. The EXAT team then spent three days, Oct 16-18, inspecting the areas where the planned construction is to be conducted.
During the visit, Ms Kulkanya explained that the project was moving forward with the preliminary determination of property prices in Tambon Patong. A total of 110 “cases” (plots), covering 160 buildings, were addressed in recent meetings.
Ms Kulkanya and her team over Oct 16-18 joined committee meetings for setting initial real estate prices. The committee included representatives from the Department of Land, the Department of Treasury, the Kathu District Office and Patong Municipality, with the Director of the Land Ownership Division of EXAT joining proceedings.
The meetings finalised property prices for the plots in question. Property owners were to sign agreements, and compensation ‒ estimated at about B150 million ‒ was to be distributed in installments starting last month (November 2024), with payments expected to conclude by the end of the year.
Another round of committee meetings to determine preliminary property prices in Kathu were held on Oct 28-29.