Chiang Rai News

Chiang Rai and Other Gateway Provinces See Jump in Land Prices ahead of AEC

Chiang Rai, Udon Thani among those reaping benefits of plans to link Thailand with neighbours

CHIANG RAI – Land prices for residential development in key gateway provinces to neighboring Asean countries have risen by between 20 per cent and 50 per cent, even though the Kingdom’s Bt2.4-trillion mega-infrastructure projects will not get under way until next year.

Road widening construction on Thailand’s R3 in Chiang Rai province

The provinces witnessing such boosts are Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the North and Udon Thani and Nong Khai in the Northeast, where developers believe that despite the delay in mega-projects due to the political situation and the ruling junta’s reassessment of state spending, there will be continued strong residential demand in locations to support the country’s logistics system after the Asean Economic Community (AEC) comes into effect next year.

Meanwhile, demand to develop residential projects around the mass-transit routes in greater Bangkok remains strong, with developers confident that new and extended routes under construction will kick off in the next two or three years.

Land prices in the main provinces central to the country’s logistics system connecting to neighboring countries are increasing following rising demand for residential, retail and manufacturing development, despite the fact that the new investment in mega-infrastructure projects still awaits final approval by the next government.

Issara Boonyoung, director of the Business Housing Association, said that though investment in a double-track rail system will not start until next year, demand for land in gateway provinces had been on the rise since last year.

This is most pronounced in Chiang Rai, which is the gateway to Yunnan in China, and Udon Thani and Nong Kai – the gateways to the Lao capital.

New housing Projects

Investment in these provinces is for residential, retail and warehouse development in support of the country’s logistics-system links to AEC countries.

Kittipol Pramote Na Ayudhya, director of the Thai Real Estate Association, said the master plan for the infrastructure and logistics system would change the country’s property business across all sectors – not only residential projects.

“We see retail businesses expanding their investment to support demand in the provincial market, which leads to residential, warehouse and manufacturing expansion to the provinces in the next stage,” he said.

Infrastructure investment will change the country’s demographics, and also expand development from Bangkok and its suburbs to the provinces in the future, he added.

However, most property firms continue to be in a wait-and-see mode.

If the ruling National Council for Peace and Order gives its approval to the Bt2.4-trillion master plan to develop the Kingdom’s infrastructure and logistics system, a major part of the investment will be for eight dual-track rail routes worth Bt858.7 billion as part of an eight-year transport development plan from 2015-22.

The bulk of the budget, at Bt741.4 billion, is for two high-speed rail routes running electric-driven trains at up to 160 kilometres per hour. The 737km Nong Khai-Map Ta Phut route will cost Bt392.5 billion, while the 655km Chiang Khong-Ban Phachi route will cost Bt348.8 billion. If approved, the routes would link up with networks in southern China, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore to facilitate expansion in trade and investment in the region.

New Mass-Transit Routes

Meanwhile, property firms are expanding their residential investment around the new mass-transit routes in greater Bangkok, and especially close to lines that are already being constructed.

The four new routes covering a total of 89km are: the 23km Purple Line from Bang Yai to Bang Sue, which is expected to commence operations in 2016; the 27km Blue Line route from Bang Sue to Tha Pra-Bang Kae, scheduled to open in 2017; the 12.8km extension to the Green Line from Bearing to Samut Prakan, due to be completed in 2017; and the next 26km of the Red Line from Bang Sue to Rangsit, which is targeted for completion in the same year.

The next seven lines where construction is yet to receive final approval are the 11.4km Green Line extension from Mo Chit to Saphan Mai, and the 7km route from Saphan Mai to Khu Kot; the 20km Orange Line from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri; the 36km Pink Line from Kai Rai to Min Buri; the 30.4km Yellow Line from Lat Phrao to Pattanakarn; the 25.5km Bang Sue-Phaya Thai-Makkasan route; the 21.8km Airport Link extension from Phaya Thai to Don Mueang; and the Red Line from Rangsit to Thammasart University Rangsit Campus.

A survey by The Nation found that land prices around the four mass-transit routes currently under construction had increased by between 20 per cent and 50 per cent since last year.

The accumulated supply of condominium projects around the Purple Line route comprises 3,505 units from seven projects that have already opened for sales and where construction is under way.

When combined with new projects launched by Eastern Star Real Estate, whose Bt2-billion Amber condominium will contain 563 units, and the 1,232 units of AP (Thailand)’s Bt2.78-billion Aspire Ratchada-Wong Sawang, the total supply will be more than 5,300 units.

Along the Bang Sue-Rangsit extended Red Line route, more than Bt30 billion-worth of new condominium project launches comprise over 20,000 units.

This has boosted land prices in the area by more than 20 per cent compared with last year.

Chiang Rai News

Chiang Rai Man Kills Woman’s Infant Daughter When She Refuses His Sexual Advances

Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.

Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai

On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.

After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.

She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.

Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.

Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.

When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.

He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.

After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.

Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.

Other Chiang Rai News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Chiang Rai News

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.

On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.

His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.

According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.

They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.

The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.

The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.

In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.

They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.

Other Chiang Rai News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Chiang Rai News

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.

According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.

The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.

When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.

Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.

Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.

During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.

The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.