Thai government to spend $75bn on transport makeover

The military junta that took over the government of Thailand in May has announced plans to spend $75bn on infrastructure over the next eight years. 

The National Council for Peace and Order said the money would go on improvements to the rail and road networks, extensions to the Sky Train elevated railway in Bangkok and increases to the country’s port and airport capacity.

Political turmoil has wrecked the previous government’s plans to improve Thailand’s ageing railways and roads. Last year, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra approved a bill that would have authorised a loan of more than $63bn to improve road and rail links by 2020.