Bangkok: The Ministry of Transport has received a significant economic stimulus budget allocation of 48.7 billion baht, which will be injected into six key agencies with the aim of expediting operations by September. The initiative is expected to benefit the public and contribute to a clear recovery of the Thai economy.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, disclosed that the Cabinet meeting held on May 20, 2025, approved the economic stimulus plan under a budget framework of 157,000 million baht. The Ministry of Finance and related agencies were tasked with considering various agencies' opinions, including observations from the Bank of Thailand (BOT). The budget allocation request for fiscal year 2025, part of the central budget's expenditure list for economic stimulus, amounted to 157,000 million baht, with projects totaling 115,375 million baht passing the criteria for investment allocation.
Mr. Suriya further explained that 48,757 million baht of this budget is allocated to the Ministry of Transport. This includes 32,188.33 million baht for the Department of Highways, 14.8 million baht for the Transport Company Limited, 765.9 million baht for the Department of Airports, 42 million baht for the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, 1,020.8 million baht for the State Railway of Thailand, and 14,725.09 million baht for the Department of Rural Roads.
The budget will be utilized to infuse money into the economic system, enhance employment, create career opportunities, and support tourism. Projects are set to begin operations by September 2025, aiming to maximize benefits for the public and stimulate steady economic growth in both the short and long term.
Mr. Suriya provided details on how the budget will be divided among agencies. For example, the Department of Highways will address traffic bottlenecks, enhance travel safety, and improve roads connecting secondary cities and tourist spots. The Department of Rural Roads will focus on travel and transportation safety, developing roads that connect secondary cities, tourist attractions, and production areas. The Department of Airports will seek budget allocations for airport improvement projects to meet safety standards. The State Railway of Thailand will implement projects to increase travel safety and address problems at railway-road intersections. The Transport Company will promote tourism in secondary cities using its buses and improve passenger terminals. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will focus on solving traffic bottlenecks and enhancing travel safety.