BMA to pay B54bn for Green Line

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is expected to pay more than 54 billion baht to operate two extended sections of the Green Line.

Representatives from the BMA and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) met yesterday to discuss the management and operation of the rail extensions.

They comprise the 12.8km Soi BearingSamut Prakan route and the 19.5km Mor Chit-Saphan Mai-Khu Khot route.

The BMA agreed to pay the MRTA the construction costs for the rail extensions, said transport permanent secretary Soithip Traisuth.

The construction cost for the Soi Bearing-Samut Prakan section is estimated to be 18.21 billion baht, and the Mor ChitKhu Khot section will cost 36.65 billion baht, according to an MRTA source.

This followed the decision in principle by the Office of the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic to allow the BMA to take over the extended sections, she added.

The MRTA will hold talks with the Public Debt Management Office and Bureau of the Budget next to discuss the construction costs of the sections.

A final cost proposal should come out next week and a decision should be reached this month, she added.

Ms Sotithip was uncertain whether the BMA would be required to pay for any interest incurred during construction.

The BMA will be responsible for negotiating an agreement with the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited, which will oversee the operations of the two extended sections, Ms Soithip said.

The Green Line’s Mor Chit-Khu Khot section is expected to ease traffic problems between Bangkok and Pathum Thani, while the Soi Bearing-Samut Prakan route will relieve traffic between Bangkok and Samut Prakan.