(July 16) Bangkok Metropolitan Council Meeting: Urgent Motion on Unpaid Debts for Green Line Extensions
At the 3rd ordinary session of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) in 2025, held at the Bangkok Metropolitan Council Chamber in the Arawat Pattana Building, Napapon Jeerakul, a BMC member representing Bangkok Noi district, proposed a motion requesting Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to report the progress on settling overdue payments for operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of the Green Line train extensions (Phase 1 and Phase 2).
Napapon stated that despite partial payments having been made, a significant amount of debt still remains since the BMA took over operations. The Governor of Bangkok had previously told the media that the BMA would consider how to accelerate payments in order to reduce the interest burden of 5.4 million baht per day, and that the payments would be made in installments with caution.
She clarified that:
- The first debt installment had already been paid according to the Supreme Administrative Court ruling, amounting to 14.47 billion baht.
- The second debt installment, covering unpaid O&M costs for Phase 1 and Phase 2 (from June 2021 to October 2022), is currently under court proceedings. The principal amount stands at 10.13 billion baht, and with 8% interest, the total owed is approximately 12.35 billion baht.
- For November 2022 to December 2024, though no lawsuit has been filed, there is an outstanding debt of 14.24 billion baht, and with interest, the total amounts to 15.50 billion baht.
- Future estimated costs of 6.25 billion baht could also accrue 8% interest if unpaid.
- From January 2025 until now, the interest alone has already reached 1.07 billion baht, and will continue to grow if payments remain unpaid.
Napapon added that the Supreme Administrative Court had ruled that when the debtor (BMA) fails to pay as stipulated, the creditor has the right to charge interest from the 20th day of the following month without requiring a formal notice. Reconsideration of a case under administrative law would require new and material evidence that could change the outcome, such as:
- Newly discovered, significant documents that could not be submitted previously,
- Judicial errors, or
- Evidence of corruption during the court process.
If the court believes that new and significant facts exist, it may allow the case to be reopened. Otherwise, it will dismiss the petition.
She also questioned why, given that the Supreme Administrative Court had ruled the contracts to be lawful—and that the BMA had already used revenues from Phase 1 extensions to pay for O&M—the BMA has not proposed a budget to fully settle the debt for Phase 1. If the BMA believed the contracts were invalid, it would not have made any payments at all.
Similarly, for Phase 2, the BMA has already made payments to BTS Group as ruled by the Supreme Administrative Court. There are no legal issues from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) regarding Phase 2. Moreover, the Governor had issued an announcement setting the flat fare at 15 baht from January 2, 2024, which generated around 100 million baht per month in revenue. Accumulated revenues now total about 1.8 billion baht. She questioned why this income was not being used to offset the growing debt and interest.
On the issue of Green Line fare restructuring, Napapon warned that if the city continues to fight and loses again, more lawsuits and mounting interest (currently growing by 4.5 million baht per day) could seriously damage the BMA.
Sutthichai Weerakulsoonthorn, a council member from Chom Thong district, added that the revenues from fare collections are designated specifically for O&M costs. If fare collections fall short, the shortfall must be covered by the budget. The current problem is that the fare revenue is insufficient, and the BMA has not requested a sufficient budget, causing the debt burden to grow steadily.
He expressed concern about whether the BMA has paid BTS. If BTS faces liquidity problems and cannot operate, it would be a major issue. Combined with the compounding interest, this situation is alarming. He called on the administration to urgently resolve the matter.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt responded by saying the administration has not ignored the issue. The BMA has already paid 38 billion baht in debts. He emphasized that the problem originated before the current administration took office. The lack of payment continuity was not deliberate. He requested that the information discussed be recorded in the meeting minutes for future reference and deliberation.
Chadchart explained that two major payments have already been made. The administration is working to reduce the debt burden, but caution is necessary because of pending court cases. The administration has no authority to declare the contracts void, as multiple agencies are involved. He reaffirmed that efforts have been made, including negotiation and written communication with various agencies, and stressed that the BMA is not idle but is acting with due diligence.
