Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has made a decision to hand over three new electric rail projects to the government in order to focus on expanding the existing Green Line. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced that the Grey Line (Watcharaphon-Thong Lor), Light Blue Line (Din Daeng-Sathon), and Silver Line (Bang Na-Suvarnabhumi) will now be transferred to the Ministry of Transport as it aligns better with their responsibilities.
Rather than terminating these projects, the BMA believes it is more appropriate for the Ministry of Transport to handle them, especially considering the integration with existing mass transit lines under the ministry’s ownership. This strategic shift allows the BMA to concentrate its efforts on expanding the Green Line, with plans to extend it from Bang Wa to Taling Chan in the upcoming fiscal year starting October 1, 2025.
The investment for the Green Line extension is likely to take the form of a public-private partnership, ensuring that the BMA does not need to solely fund the project. This approach frees up resources for other critical investments like new hospitals, public utilities, and enhancements to education and quality of life in the city.
The proposal to transfer the electric rail projects to the government’s committee on land transport system management has been put forward by the BMA. If approved, these projects would be passed to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority for further evaluation on implementation timelines and prioritization. Initial estimates suggest that the Silver Line would require 135 billion baht in funding, while the Grey Line would need 62.8 billion baht.
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