BLUE LINE EXTENSION, FREEWAY PENDS CABINET APPROVAL

>> The Transport Ministry is preparing to seek approval from the cabinet for the Blue Line extension connecting Bang Khae and Phutthamonthon Sai 4 and the Rama III Road-Dao Khanong-Western Outer Ring Road Expressway worth more than 50 billion baht in total.

Peraphon Thawornsupacharoen, deputy permanent secretary for transport, said the eight kilometre Blue Line electric railway extension, valued at 21.1 billion baht, and the 11km expressway, worth 31.2 million baht, would be tabled in the cabinet meeting for approval next month.

He was speaking on Friday after a meeting on this year’s urgent transportation infrastructure action plan.

Mr Peraphon said the rail project was now under the consideration of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). It would be forwarded to the cabinet along with the expressway project for approval.

If the cabinet green-lighted both infrastructure projects next month, the bidding for both would be open in June with contracts signed in August. The construction of both would start this September.

Aside from the Blue Line extension and the expressway, Mr Peraphon said the ministry would also seek approval from the cabinet on the construction of sections of inter-provincial motorways.

There were also a part of a motorway linking Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya and the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima as well as Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi.

Mr Peraphon said the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand has also confirmed the agency would next month sign contracts with private operators on two electric rail routes: the 34.5km Pink Line from Khae Rai to Min Buri, costing 56.6 billion baht, and the 30.4km Yellow Line from Lat Phrao to Samrong, worth 54.6 billion baht.

A draft of the first contract is nearly complete. When complete, Thai and Chinese authorities will draft the second contract concerning hiring project consultants.