Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai cabinet has approved 1.8billion THB (about 48.8 million USD) in financial assistance for the Lao Government to maintain and improve Highway R12, shortening the travel time from Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province, through Laos,to the Vietnamese border in central Quang Binh province.
Deputy Government Spokesperson KaenikaOonchit said Highway R12 starts in Thakhek, the capital of Khammouane provincein Laos, at the junction with Highway R13, which is about 17km fromThailand’s Nakhon Phanom border checkpoint. It runs through Laos and ends inthe Vietnamese border province of Quang Binh, covering a total distance of 147kmand forming an integral part of the Asian Highway Network.
Kaenika said that the money will also be used to upgradecargo terminals, storage facilities, lighting at intersections, publicutilities, drainage systems in communities, and touristattractions along the route.
Highway R12 will enhance road transport and logisticslinking Thailand with Laos, Vietnam and China, shorten the transit time fromten to just four hours, and reduce customs procedures from five to just twocheckpoints.
R12 is considered as theshortest route, compared to R8 or R9, along the East-West Economic Corridor, the official said, adding that the amount of goods transported from Nakhon Phanom to Laos viaR12, after maintenance works complete, is anticipated to increase byabout 50%./.
