Department of highways
13/11/2568 จำนวนผู้เข้าชม : 44
The Department of Highways was established as a department on April 1, 1912 (R.S. 131), corresponding to the year 2455 in the Thai calendar. Originally, there was only the Department of Canals under the Ministry of Agriculture. However, during the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), His Majesty issued a royal decree to merge the Department of Canals with the Ministry of Public Works, and the department was renamed the "Department of Highways." The Ministry of Public Works was also renamed the Ministry of Transport according to the Rattanakosin 131 administrative reform proclamation.
His Majesty issued a royal decree to transfer the waterway division of the Department of Highways to the Department of Irrigation, which was under the Ministry of Agriculture. As a result, the Department of Highways focused solely on land transport, with a department head in charge.
After Thailand declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary, His Majesty issued a royal decree to merge the Department of Highways with the Royal Railway Department, which was under the Ministry of Commerce and Transport. The merger aimed to facilitate coordination between the two departments, especially in controlling foreign engineers who were considered enemy nationals. At that time, the chief engineer was the head of the Department of Highways.
King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) issued a royal decree to merge the Ministry of Commerce and Transport with the Ministry of Agriculture, creating the new Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. As a result, the Royal Railway Department, including the Department of Highways, was moved under the new ministry.
King Prajadhipok issued a royal decree to establish the Ministry of Finance, resulting in the dissolution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. The Royal Railway Department, including the Department of Highways, was transferred to the Ministry of Finance.
King Prajadhipok issued a royal decree transferring the authority of constructing and maintaining highways to the Department of Public Works, which was under the Ministry of the Interior.
During the reign of King Ananda Mahidol, the Department of Highways was elevated to the status of a full department and was transferred from the Department of Public Works under the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Transport, according to the 1941 administrative reform law. Despite being elevated to departmental status under the Ministry of Transport, the department did not have its own office and continued to operate within the Department of Public Works. It wasn't until November 12, 1948, that the Department of Highways moved to its current location on Rama VI Road, and the new office building was officially opened on June 4, 1955.
The Department of Highways changed its name to the "Department of Public Highways" according to the 1952 administrative reform law, still under the Ministry of Transport.
The Department of Public Highways changed its name back to the "Department of Highways" and was moved under the Ministry of National Development according to the 1963 administrative reform law.
The Department of Highways was transferred back to the Ministry of Transport, as stipulated by the relevant laws, including:
