Tangible progress in rail projects should be seen next year: Arkhom

These PPP projects and other mass-transit projects in the capital mean Bangkokians can expect to see tangible progress in the construction of at least five new underground and elevated electric rail lines next year, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said yesterday. 

The PPP Committee earlier shortened the PPP process period for drawing up projects to nine months, from the previous 24 months.

The PPP projects designated for the next two years, worth a combined Bt350 billion, are: the Mass Rapid Transit Authority’s Blue Line extension (Bang Sue-Tha Phra), worth Bt82.5 billion; the Pink Line, worth Bt56.7 billion; the Yellow Line, worth Bt54.8 billion; the Bt84.6-billion motorway from Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa-in district to Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima; and the Bt55.6-billion motorway from Nonthaburi’s Bang Yai district to Ratchaburi’s Ban Pong district, onward to Kanchanaburi. 

The Transport Ministry is also pushing for the Cabinet to include two high-speed train routes – Bangkok-Hua Hin and Bangkok-Rayong – worth Bt246 billion combined in the PPP fast-track scheme, together with the services of the Red Lines and Airport Rail Link.

“If you think that clarity means seeing the stake hit the ground, then you are too slow, since once a project is approved, you should already know that it will be built. In terms of motorways, you don’t even have to ask.

“There are three new motorways that will definitely be built – Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima, Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi, and Pattaya to-Map Ta Phut – and if investors want to invest they should have already looked to see which provinces these roads will pass through, and start to invest now,” Arkhom said at the “Thailand Economic Outlook 2016” seminar, arranged by Krungthep Turakij newspaper and NOW 26 digital-TV channel. 

The Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi, Pattaya-Map Ta Phut and Bang Pa-in-Saraburi-Nakhon Ratchasima motorways are estimated to cost around Bt55.6 billion, Bt20 billion, and Bt84.6 billion respectively, with construction expected to commence next year. 

“In Bangkok, the Purple, Orange, Pink, Yellow and Green lines will follow next year. Some are in the first phase, others are in the second phase. Some are in the third phase, such as the elevated North Green Line, where contracted work is already 5-10 per cent complete, and the South Green Line, where it is 60-70 per cent complete,” Arkhom told the seminar.

The three phases alluded to by the minister are the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and Cabinet approval processes; the terms of reference (TOR) and auction processes; and the contract/construction stage. 

“The first two of the 10 stations on the South Green Line should be operational first, while the remaining eight have already gained EIA approval,” he added.

Under the PPP fast-track scheme, it will take three-and-a-half months to draft the projects.

This is followed by a 15-day period for the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) to consider and forward the projects to the PPP board and the Cabinet, with the board and Cabinet consideration stage taking four months.

The TOR will be prepared while seeking Cabinet approval, which could shorten the TOR drafting period to one-and-a half months, said the minister.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas, SEPO director-general, said the auction process for the Pink and Yellow lines is expected to commence around the end of next year, while Arkhom said the North Purple Line is expected to be operational by next August.

The contracting work on the Blue Line extension is around 60 per cent complete, with the process underway to find someone to operate the train service.

The Orange East and West projects will be submitted to the Cabinet in the second week of December, along with the South Purple Line, Arkhom added.