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Published on November 17, 2007

The three lines are the Yellow Line, Brown Line and Pink Line.

The OTP has hired a group of consultants led by Thai MM to conduct a study into the economic viability of the project, environmental factors and the primary design of the system. It will cost Bt90 million and be concluded by next July.

OTP deputy director-general Aram Komsombut said the decision to study the feasibility of the three lines followed the resolution of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Cabinet on September 7, 2004, which assigned the OTP to expand the plan for the capital's mass-transit system from seven lines to 10.

The OTP has not conducted a study as yet, because the previous government intended to ask the private sector to conduct their own study.

The office decided to go ahead with its own study after the change of government last year.

Aram said the previous government had not decided whether the three lines should be light rail or heavy rail, elevated or underground, to make the investment more "worthwhile" than the seven lines sanctioned earlier. Once the new government decides these matters, the OTP will include the lines in the transport master plan and reprioritise the order of project execution before submitting the proposal to the government.

As for political parties' policies on various mass-transit projects, he said the OTP would have to study the details of these promised projects.

The Yellow Line will extend 35 kilometres, linking Lat Phrao and Samrong via Srinakarin Road. It will connect with the Blue Line at Ratchadaphisek-Lat Phrao Intersection and with the Light Green Line at Samrong.

The Brown Line will connect with the Yellow Line at Lam Salee and run for 10km to the Savinthawong Intersection.

The 33km-long Pink Line is to start at the Kae Rai Intersection and connect with the Purple Line at Suwinthawong Intersection.

Watcharapong Thongrung

 The Nation