Purple Line bidding could face delay
Deputy Finance Minister Sommai Phasee said the government might not be able to hold bidding in August for construction of the mass-transit Purple Line from Bang Sue to Bang Yai.
Sommai said that in his initial discussions with Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um, it was mentioned that bidding for the Purple Line might not be held in August as planned earlier. The Transport Ministry has not yet resolved a certain issue related to the public-private joint investment, he said. He said he would discuss the issue again with Sansern on Friday. Sommai said if the bidding could not be held in August, it might be held after the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) makes a decision on whether to provide loans to Thailand to support mass-transit projects. A report suggested the JBIC could not decide on the loans before August as requested by the Thai government. The JBIC needs more time to consider the details, said the report. Sommai said he learned of the report through the media. However, he said that if the JBIC's loan comes late, the ministry could borrow locally.
Wichit Chaitrong The Nation
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