The Ministry of Transport is preparing to implement 262 mega projects in the 2027 budget with over 229 billion baht, promoting PPP motorways M8, M5, M9, road expansions, and southern double-track railways aimed at easing traffic and upgrading logistics systems.
Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, revealed that for the 2027 fiscal year, the Ministry of Transport has been allocated a total investment budget of over 229,769 million baht for 262 projects. Of these, 205 projects are continuations from 2026 with an investment of 200,626 million baht, while from 2028 to 2030, 51 new projects totaling 593,409 million baht will be undertaken.
The Ministry of Transport is preparing to submit projects for Cabinet approval by late 2026 or no later than Q2 2027 (January–March), focusing on intercity expressways (motorways) as public-private partnerships (PPP), including:
The M8 Motorway project from Nakhon Pathom to Pak Tho,
The M5 Motorway extension from Rangsit to Bang Pa-in,
The M9 Kanchanaphisek Motorway segment from Bang Khun Thian to Bang Bua Thong,
and the Kathu-Patong tunnel expressway project in Phuket Province.
To complete transport network connectivity, the Ministry plans to expedite construction of the Hat Yai eastern ring road and widen Highways 4 and 41 to address long-term traffic problems. This includes developing the Bang Pa-in motorway interchange and projects funded by loans from the Department of Rural Roads, such as the Krabi Island and Songkhla Lake bridges.
Regarding the Rama 3-Daokanong expressway, managed by the Expressway Authority of Thailand, it is expected to open to Daokanong by late 2026, with the Tosamrat bridge connection (contract 3) scheduled for completion by Q2 2027 as planned.
On rail development, Mr. Pipat added that he has instructed the State Railway of Thailand to speed up construction of the first phase double-track railways (Khon Kaen–Nong Khai, Den Chai–Chiang Khong, Ban Phai–Nakhon Phanom) and prepare Cabinet proposals for phase 2 double-track routes in the south, covering Chumphon–Surat Thani, Surat Thani–Hat Yai, and Hat Yai–Padang Besar, alongside accelerating bidding for the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail phase 2 project.
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