Mr. Suriya, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, has achieved notable progress over the past year and a half since returning to oversee the Ministry of Transport. He is joined by two Deputy Ministers, Mrs. Monporn Charoensri and Mr. Surapong Piyachoti, working under the guiding principle of “Transportation for Thailand’s Opportunities.” This vision aims to make transportation a driving force in the country’s sustainable economic and social development.
A key aspect of Mr. Suriya’s administration is to enhance transportation systems to be more convenient, safe, timely, reasonably priced, and environmentally friendly. One of the standout initiatives is the “20 Baht BTS” policy, which offers affordable public transport, especially on the Red and Purple MRT lines. This initiative has already seen a significant increase in ridership by 26.59%, with 33.4 million passengers annually, leading to positive public feedback and a Cabinet extension of the policy until 2025.
In addition to improving public transit, several major infrastructure projects are underway. For example, the Tatsarachan Bridge and the Motorway 81 (M81) project are expected to alleviate traffic congestion, while railway projects such as the Southern Dual Line Railway and the Northern Dual Line Railway will enhance connectivity. Waterway improvements are also on the horizon, with the Smart Pier project and new stations along the Chao Phraya River aiming to modernize the river transport system.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport, the opening of a new concourse and runway will help manage the growing number of passengers, while upgrades at Khon Kaen and Nakhon Si Thammarat airports will improve regional capacity.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Ministry is pushing for the Land Bridge project and significant railway expansions. The government’s focus will also include the development of cruise terminals and further airport expansions, particularly at Suvarnabhumi. Safety remains a priority in all construction projects, and Mr. Suriya is working to strengthen safety measures and regulations to ensure smoother operations and better security for the public.
