Four of 10 PPP projects worth over Bt160bn approved for 2021
The State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) has approved government investment this year in four public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects worth a total Bt162.95 billion. The four are among 10 projects worth Bt200 billion that SEPO’s Public-Private Partnership Committee is screening for government investment in 2021.
The four projects are:
1. Bangkok’s Purple Line southern extension (Tao Poon-Rat Burana), valued at Bt124.7 billion.
2. Construction and management of rest areas on Bang Pa-In-Nakhon Ratchasima highway (Bt1.6 billion).
3. Construction and management of rest areas on Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi highway (Bt1.45 billion).
4. First phase of Phuket mass transit system from Phuket Airport to Chalong Intersection (Bt35.2 billion).
The committee also revised the draft plan for long-term PPP investment (2020-2027), reducing the number of projects from 92 worth Bt1.09 trillion to 77 projects worth Bt1 trillion, said SEPO director-general Panthip Sriphimol.
“Of these, 20 projects are considered urgent and require immediate investment of Bt503.15 billion,” she added.
Meanwhile, Pakapong Sirikantaramas, governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), said the MRTA expects to sell bidding envelopes for construction of the Purple Line Tao Poon-Rat Burana section by June, with bidding due to take no more than two months.
“Construction should start by December this year, and we estimate the section will open for public use in March 2027,” he said.