Cabinet gives green light for routes
The Cabinet yesterday approved five electric-rail routes requiring a combined investment of Bt165.4 billion, linking central Bangkok with its surrounding areas.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said after the meeting the five routes would be decided based on budget considerations to determine which ones should receive priority."The government will conduct a public hearing on the rail-route construction over the next two months before making any decision, expected to be next January," he said. Surayud said the projects, comprising one underground and four elevated rail lines, are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012. The five rail routes include the extension of the Blue Line, the Purple Line from Bang Yai to Bang Sue, the Red Line from Rangsit to Bang Sue, the Dark Green Line from Bangwa to Saphan Mai and the Light Green Line from Prannok to Samut Prakan. The total length is 118 kilometres and needs a total investment of Bt165.4 billion. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said bidding for the rail routes was expected to start next March, with the process completed by the end of next year. He said the Transport Ministry would hire an expert to design the details of each route before beginning construction instead of designing and building at the same time, as the authorities had done in the past. "This will help the state save Bt15 billion in construction costs," Pridiyathorn said. He added the projects would be partially funded through the government budget and the remainder via borrowings, possibly from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
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