FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

PPP committee nods to Pink, Yellow mass transit lines

PPP committee nods to Pink, Yellow mass transit lines

THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE Partnership Policy Committee has given a green light for the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority to go ahead with its Pink and Yellow Lines in Bangkok, with a combined investment value of more than Bt110 billion.

The Pink Line will run 34.5 kilometres from Khae Rai to Min Buri, and will cost Bt56.69 billion. The Yellow Line stretches 30.4km from Lat Phrao to Samrong, and will have a total project cost of Bt54.64 billion.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director-general of the State Enterprise Policy Office, said the government would be responsible for land-procurement costs while the private sector would invest in civil works, trains and rail systems, and consulting fees, as well as maintenance and operations of the elevated-train projects under a 30-year concession. 
The private sector will collect the train tickets and take the risks on passenger volumes. 
To attract private investors, the PPP Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, agreed for the state to provide financial support to the investors in an amount not exceeding the cost of civil works. 
The committee has assigned the MRTA to update the financial assumptions to reduce the state’s burden before submitting the projects’ proposals to the Cabinet for approval this month. 
The committee also followed up on the progress of three other fast-track PPP projects, comprising the Blue Line extension project (Hua Lamphong to Bang Khae and Bang Sue to Tha Phra) and the Bangpa-in-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi motorway projects. 
The PPP committee asked relevant agencies to hasten their considerations on these five fast-track projects, which will have a combined investment value of Bt334 billion.
In addition, the committee has resolved problems and obstacles for solar farms and small waste-management projects under the Public-Private Joint Investment Act of 2013.
 
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