Major Development Push for Southern Provinces Unveiled

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced measures to accelerate development in Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani following the first Mobile Cabinet Meeting of 2026, held in Songkhla on September 1. Priorities cover the economy, social development, security, and disaster management, including financial support for businesses, dredging navigation channels in Songkhla and Pattani, plans for a second Hat Yai Hospital, labor cooperation with Malaysia, local safety networks, and greater use of technology at border checkpoints.

More than 142 million baht will be utilized toward urgent disaster measures, including an emergency shelter in Pattani, drainage improvements in Hat Yai and Khuan Lang, and upgrades to the Khlong Rian flood-retention reservoir. The Cabinet also approved in principle a nationwide disaster insurance system covering about 30 million households against floods, windstorms, and earthquakes, with property compensation of up to 100,000 baht per household per incident and a death benefit of 2 million baht per person.

The government would pay about 15.5 billion baht annually in insurance premiums for approximately 75 billion baht in coverage, compared with around 40 billion baht previously spent each year on disaster assistance. Initial payments could be made within 15 days, followed by additional compensation within another 15 days, shifting more government resources toward advance disaster-risk protection.

The Cabinet also approved 106.79 billion baht for three Phase 2 Southern Double-Track Railway sections: Chumphon–Surat Thani, Surat Thani–Hat Yai Junction, and Hat Yai Junction–Padang Besar. Other infrastructure plans include the Songkhla Lake Bridge and a bridge connecting Ko Lanta. Anutin called for the decisions made in Songkhla to produce concrete improvements in transportation, economic opportunities, public safety, and quality of life across the five southern provinces.

Source: NBT World