The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) told the media on Saturday the 220-km-long high-speed rail project linking Thailand's three airports will be delayed.

The three airports to be linked with high speed rail include Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao.

"The budget to demolish infrastructure to make way for the new high-speed system has not been approved," said SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan, "without the budget approval, then first phase of the rail construction will have to be delayed.

An agreement on the project of a high-speed rail linking three airports in Thailand was signed in late 2019.

The project is a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and consortium, led by Charoen Pokphand Holding Co. and consisting of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).

The 7.22-billion-U.S.-dollar rail project is targeted to bring economic development to Thailand's tourism and business sectors, linking Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakarn province and U-tapao airport in Rayong province and stretching its reach to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Enditem