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Published on October 30, 2007

They must be removed to pave the way for the construction of a section of the electric Red Line.

Chairman Siva Sangmanee said the amount was part of Bt8.75 billion set aside for building the 15-kilometre section.

Under the terms of reference, the winning bidder for construction must be in charge of relocating the communities. The bidders are Italian-Thai Development, Syntec Construction, Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, Ch Karnchang, Unique Engineering and Construction, Ascon Construction, Nawarat Patanakarn, Ruamnakorn Construction and Russian-EMC Tech Cooperation.

The bids will be opened on December 13 and next February 12. Next March, the contract will be approved, with signing scheduled for next April. Construction is due to start next May and should be completed by June 2011.

While noting that passing the expropriation to the contractor could hurt the project, a Transport Ministry source said the SRT actually did not need to pay for people who had settled illegally.

"SRT executives have turned a blind eye to illegal encroachment. But this becomes a major obstacle for projects, and the SRT must set aside a special budget for relocation. If this continues, it'll encourage communities to settle along railways," he said.

The Bang Sue-Taling Chan section is part of the Red Line. Another 36-kilometre section will run from Bang Sue to Rangsit and cost Bt59.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Office director-general Maitree Srinarawat said that next year, the office would launch 70 projects with a Bt45-billion budget aimed at solving traffic problems in the greater Bangkok area. Rail and road networks will be improved, along with taxis and public buses.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation