4th Mekong River Bridge construction postponed to next November
12/12/2008
(KPL) The 4th Mekong River Bridge Construction Project in Bokeo, which was scheduled to commence in May 2009 will be postponed to November 2009.
This bridge will connect Bokeo province in northern Laos with Chiang Rai province in Thailand.
The local authorities of Bokeo province told KPL News yesterday that the six month postponement was due to the fact that the Chinese government proposed several new policies to the Lao and Thai governments.
The Chinese called on the two governments to waive taxes on construction materials, levy on workers and others.
While the Lao government has agreed to such proposals but Thailand is not able to make any decision because Thailand does not have a government in place and the officials said that they are not authorised to make such decisions.
The budget of the 4th Mekong River Bridge Construction Project is US$ 60 million, with Thailand and China footing the bill on a 50-50 basis. Laos is also paying a portion of the cost as it has agreed to compensate four billion kip to the 171 families who will have to vacate to another place as their houses are in the path of the bridge.
This bridge, 400 m long and 14.7 m wide, will span across the Mekong River. It will act as a linkage for four countries, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and China and it follows that it will boost trade investment, tourism and transportation. Mr Thavone Voravouth, Director of the 4th Mekong River Bridge Construction Project, said that any delay on the construction of the bridge does not only incur losses in time and money but it could lead to a derailment of the project as the present global financial crisis is certain to adversely affect the governments coffers. |
