Electric cables, power lines on 48.7km roads in Bangkok moved underground
Overhead electric cables on some of Bangkok's busiest roads have been successfully moved underground, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has said.
MEA, a state enterprise under the Ministry of Interior, said the project has covered 48.6 kilometres so far, including some areas of major roads, such as Silom, Sukhumvit, Phaholyothin, Phya Thai, Rama 1, Rama IV, Ratchadamri, Ratchawithi, Ratchaprarop, Sri Ayutthaya, Sawankhalok, Sathu Pradit, Sawang Arom, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan.
The MEA said that as part of the government's efforts to make Bangkok an Asean metropolis, the underground cables project has been continuously transformed into an underground electric cable system, accelerating the construction of a smart metro city for sufficiency and stability of the electrical system including improving the landscape in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakarn.
The MEA's plan to shift aerial power lines underground has selected necessary routes according to the train construction, key utilities, main road, and business area. Important places were areas with high demand for electricity and rapid growth in demand for electricity, the MEA said.
The project is expected to cover a total distance of 167 kilometres.
Work is ongoing, covering a total distance of 128.2 kilometres in the Nonsi area, Rama III Road, Ratchadaphisek - Rama 9, Ratchadaphisek - Asoke, around Chitralada Royal Villa, Rama IV Road, Witthayu Road, inner-city area (Sathorn Road, Charoen Rat Road, Chidlom Road, Phetchaburi Road, Din Daeng Road), and Henri Dunant Road along the Blue Line, Light Green, Pink, and Yellow train routes.
The process is underway for recruiting contractors for 38.8 kilometres consisting of roads along the Orange Line, Green Line Extension and Purple Line trains (Arun Amarin Road - Borommaratchachonnani Road - Prannok Road - Thahan Road - Pracharat 1 Road and Samsen Road). The contractor is expected to be finalised before 2021.
