"The caretaker government wants to accelerate the process to launch the terms of reference for the three mass-transit lines within this month because Thai Rak Thai, as the government, wants to use the mass-transit scheme to campaign in Bangkok for the urban vote," a Transport Ministry source said yesterday.

The ministry is determined to announce the terms of reference for the three light-rail lines on August 15, the source said. Then the private sector will be given 90 days to submit their proposals. If all goes as planned, the government should start considering the details of the proposals by December.

 "Thai Rak Thai sent a clear message to voters that if it returns to power, they will pick up the projects immediately. But if the other party is elected to become the government, they may throttle back the process to construct the three new lines," he said.

The campaign is in line with a recent survey by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning which showed that more than 90 per cent of residents in the metropolitan area want to see the commuter trains running as soon as possible.

Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) chairman Anchalee Chavanit said that if the bidding procedures go ahead as planned, the Purple Line from Bang Yai to Bang Sue should be the first route to be laid. Construction would take around three years.

The two other lines are the Blue and the Red.

The Blue Line will extend the existing MRT subway system from Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae, and Bang Sue to Tha Pra. Construction on the two sections covering 50 kilometres should take four years and eight months.

The project requires an investment of Bt103.14 billion. The Finance Ministry will secure the financing and guarantee the loans as per a Cabinet resolution.

Terdsak Sedthamanop, deputy Transport Ministry permanent secretary, said the Red Line would connect Rangsit-Yommarat-Phya Thai to the Makkasan-Suvarnabhumi Airport rail link, which is under construction.

As for the additional route to Mahachai and Taling Chan, the board has to date only approved the pricing aspect, and not the construction concept. The budget for the Red Line should be Bt42.7 billion, Terdsak said.

Prapat Chongsanguan, who just clinched another four-year term as MRTA governor, said many foreign firms are interested to join the bidding for the three mass-transit lines, including majors from Germany, France, Spain and Japan.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation