Bangkok administration lacks funding to build three mass transit lines
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to scrap the construction of three mass transit projects, due to a shortage of money, and to transfer them to the Ministry of Transport for implementation.
The decision not to go ahead with the construction of the Silver, Grey and Light Blue lines was adopted at a meeting of the BMA’s mass transit project management committee today.
The Silver Line is 19.7-km long, linking Bang Na with the Suvarnabhumi international airport. It would have 14 stations and connect with the Green Line at Bang Na station and the Yellow Line at Sri-iam station. Most of the route is on land of the Highways Department and half of the route is located in Samut Prakan province.
Phase One of the Grey Line is 16.3-km long, linking Watcharaphol with Thonglor. It would have 15 stations and connect with the Pink, Brown, Yellow, Orange and Green at Thonglor station. Most of the land through which the Line route passes belongs to the Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, under the supervision of the Transport Ministry.
The Blue Line is 9.5-km long, from Din Daeng to Sathorn. It would have nine stations and connect with the Blue Line at Ploenchit and Sala Dang stations.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Wisanu Subsompon admitted that the BMA does not have enough money to implement the three projects and has several other important projects to be implemented, which will be more beneficial to residents of Bangkok.
He said that the only mass transit project that the city administration will implement is the extension of the Green Line, from Bang Wa to Taling Chan, which is 7.5-km long and is estimated to cost about 7 billion baht.
The BMA is currently negotiating with the Department of Rural Roads for permission to use some areas of the department’s Ratchapruek Road for the construction of the project.
The deputy governor said that the mass transit project management committee’s decision today will be forwarded to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt for approval. It will then be submitted to the Land Traffic Management Committee, headed by the prime minister, for consideration.
