SRT, BMTA rehabilitation plans need revisions

Transport Minister Sophon Saram met with officials from the finance ministry, the National Social and Economic Development Board and other related organisations to reconsider the rehabilitation plans yesterday.

Sophon said the meeting agreed with the SRT plan to seek Bt2.35 billion from the government in compensation for losses accrued from providing low-cost public services in accordance with the state's social-support policy.

He said it was only appropriate that the government step in to offset SRT's losses and find a way to financially support its accumulated debts and losses from its more than Bt60-billion investment in infrastructure.

However, he asked the SRT to revise details of a plan to set up a subsidiary to run the Airport Rail Link and the Red Line mass transit system, adding that the structure of the planned subsidiary appeared to lack flexibility.

Having to revise details would mean that the finance ministry could not put forward SRT's rehabilitation plan for Cabinet consideration next week as planned earlier.

Sopon also told BMTA to come up with clear figures on the financial losses derived from the operation of air-conditioned public buses and from providing low-cost public service.