Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said BMA executives would meet today to discuss the impact of oil price increases and the impact it was having on city residents.

On the agenda for today's meeting, he said, would be the possibility of extending the Skytrain from On Nut to Sukhumvit soi 107, from Mo Chit to Kaset intersection and from Taksin bridge to Bang Wa.

The On Nut extension was originally planned to stretch 8.9km to Samrong. The extension to Soi 107 would be 5.2km.

The Mo Chit line extension was originally planned for Sapan Mai bridge, the possible Kaset intersection extension stops short of that.

Apirak said reducing the extension of the On Nut and Mo Chit routes would save the BMA a lot of money and make extending three routes a possibility.

The BMA's Traffic and Transport Department estimates the three extensions will cost almost Bt30 billion. Apirak said he had assigned his deputy, Panit Wikitset, to review the 16 road projects currently on the drawing board, to see if some could be postponed and the money reallocated to extending the Skytrain routes.

If the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan was to be reviewed, Apirak said he would first consult with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. The BRT plan is now before Cabinet and, if approved, may begin operations with a trial service on Rama III Rd from Rajapreuk to Bangkok Bridge, he said.

To avoid corruption scandals like those that have plagued 16 costly road projects, Apirak said an independent panel would be established to monitor the Skytrain extension budget.

The Skytrain extensions have been delayed for a long time because of a 2000 Cabinet resolution that required the projects to be 100-per-cent funded by the private sector.

The BMA has petitioned the government to have the resolution changed, to allow the BMA to join in the investment - leading to the BMA-funded Skytrain extension from Taksin Bridge to Thon Buri, slated to begin providing services by the end of the year.