The Mass Rapid Transit Authority will try to award the contracts for civil work on the Blue Line mass-transit system before the parliamentary dissolution in September.
Governor Chukiat Photayanuvat said an MRTA committee would examine the qualifications of the bidders and announce their names this weekend. Then the project consultant will examine their bidding-document details before forwarding the results on Monday for board consideration. He said the MRTA would unseal the bids in July in hopes of granting the contracts by September, the month tentatively set for House dissolution.
Only a few firms have submitted bids for the five contracts.
The first contract is for the design and construction of the underground route from Hua Lamphong to Sanam Chai, involving 2.8 kilometres and two subway stations. Four contractors submitted bids: Italian-Thai Development; SN Joint Venture, consisting of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction and Nawarat Patanakarn; Ch Karnchang; and ZT Union Joint Venture, consisting of the Zhongtian Construction Group and Unique Engineering and Construction.
The same four also bid on the second contract, for the design and construction of the subway route from Sanam Chai to Tha Phra, involving 2.6 kilometres and two subway stations.
The third contract is for construction of the elevated route from Taopoon to Tha Phra, involving 11 kilometres, eight stations and a bridge across the Chao Phya River. Four contractors bid on this one: Italian-Thai Development; Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction; Ch Karnchang; and SH-UN Joint Venture, consisting of Sinohydro and Unique Engineering and Construction.
These same four also bid on the fourth contract, for construction of the elevated route from Tha Phra to Lak Song, running 10.5 kilometres and including seven stations, a maintenance centre and a park-and-ride building. The fifth contract is for the design and construction of rolling stock for the entire project. Four contractors bid on this: Italian-Thai Development; Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction; Ch Karnchang; and CTCI Joint Venture, consisting of CTCI and AS Associate Engineering (1964).
Meanwhile, Chukiat said the terms of reference for the Bang Sue-Bang Yai Purple Line would be ready in September, aimed at attracting private investment in and management of its operation on a public-private joint-venture basis.
However, it will be up to the new government to decide exactly how the project will proceed, he added.