Skytrain extension
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will hold a meeting with the contractor Siemens on Monday to finalise the cost of extending the Skytrain from Saphan Taksin station across the river to Taksin Intersection in Thon Buri.
The German company has said it requires Bt1.8 billion to complete the 2.2-kilometre extension, while the BMA says it has a budget of Bt1.2 billion, said Aphirat Siwaphornphithak, head of the BMA's Traffic and Transportation Department. The 2.2-km section is part of an 5.7-km extension project, which will stretch from the Taksin Intersection to Phetkasem Road in Bang Wa. The 5.7-km extension is part of the BMA's overall expansion of Bangkok Transit System service routes in three directions. The other two routes are the 5.25-km extension from On nut station to Sukhumvit 107 and the 5.1-km extension from Mor Chit station to Kaset Intersection. The three extensions will cost an estimated Bt27 billion in total. The BMA will completely own and run the three extended routes. This will require the City Assem-bly's approval of an amendment to end government subsidies, and the termination of an agreement for the routes to be operated by a joint venture with the private sector.
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