Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has invoked Section 44 of the country's constitution to waive some regulations and speed up progress on a section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway line between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The 252km rail project from Bangkok to the northeast of the country is part of a bigger plan to connect into China's Yunnan province via northern Laos. The Chinese city of Kunming is being developed as a major rail hub, with freight and passenger services that will eventually connect via Bangkok with lines running all the way down to Singapore, accelerating regional economic integration.

Speaking at the offices of the prime minister, Government House, following a weekly cabinet meeting in mid-June, Prayut said that Article 44 powers were needed to resolve legal delays. He exercised his power as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to issue the Section 44 order, which gives the government broad powers to push through planning permissions and overcome legal obstacles. The order was subsequently published in the Royal Gazette.

Thailand and China are expected to sign contracts on project design and construction work for the project in the coming months. Work on the rail line should begin this year.