BRT route set to be signed soon
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration expects to sign the construction contract for the first of five bus rapid-transit (BRT) routes next month and expects one route to be operational next year.
"We are considering whether the BMA should purchase and operate the buses or offer a concession for procurement and operations to a private operator," Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday. The first route, from Surawong to Rajaphruek, or Chong Nonsi, will run on diesel until PTT is ready to build a natural-gas station to support the operation. About 35-40 buses will be needed on this 16.5km route to ensure that a bus leaves every 7-10 minutes. The route can accommodate 50,000 passengers a day in the first year. The fares will range from Bt12 to Bt22 in the beginning. In the first three years, five pilot projects would be built with a total development cost of Bt12.89 billion. The first route will require Bt1.9 billion and be a part of the Bt2.2-billion, 23-kilometre Surawong-Rajaphruek-Pracha Uthit route. The other routes are the Bt4.5-billion 38km route from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi, the Bt1.12-billion 18.7km route from Pak Kret to Mor Chit, the Bt3.1-billion route from Min Buri to Srinakarin Road, and the Bt1.9-billion 15.6km route from Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi. The BRT system will cost Bt80 million-Bt120 million per kilometre, or 80 per cent of the cost for a subway, which is estimated at Bt1.4 billion. The BMA believes the BRT system is necessary given the worsening traffic problems in Bangkok. A survey showed that in the inner city, cars could move at the speed of 12km per hour. Within a five-10km radius, the speed is 23km per hour. While in a 20-30km radius, the speed is 35km. "If the project succeeds, the BMA should be able to invest in more routes," Apirak said, adding a BRT route could be completed within a year.
Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation
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