Purple Line tender due soon

Bidding documents for the 23-kilometre route linking Bang Yai and Bang Sue are scheduled to go on sale next month.

Governor Prapat Chongsanguan said the authority would not wait for the new government or new transport minister because there should be no problems.

The procedures for allocating the Purple Line job would follow the framework laid down by the outgoing Cabinet, but the new government led by the People Power Party has already announced its policy in this regard, he said.

"The faster the electric train projects proceed, the more results the government can show the people," Prapat said.

Interested parties will have three months to study the terms of reference and quote a price.

After that, the MTRA will open the bids before signing a contract with the winner.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has already agreed in principle to finance the project. It is now waiting for the formal loan request from the Thai government.

The loan facility for the Purple Line is expected to be Bt31 billion, which will be used for both civil engineering works, including stations, and rolling stock.

The Purple Line has six passenger stations and can carry at least 50,000 riders per hour. It is expected to take three years to construct.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation