Thread: Cabinet approves five Bangkok rail lines

That pink line sounds good

StrontiumDog ‏
@StrontiumDog1
Pic-1.05-Bearring to Samit Prakan BTS green line construction beginning, 13km, 9 stations open 2560 bit.ly/yPaAtf RT @Reporter_Js1


Reporter_Js1
laila longsuwan
รฟม.เริ่มก่อสร้างรถไฟฟ้าสายสีเขียว แบริ่ง-สมุทรปราการ13กม.9สถานี แนวเกาะกลางถ.สุขุมวิท แบริ่งถึงบางปิ้ง เปิดบริการ2560 http://pic.twitter.com/dvZuZyMl

Originally Posted by Keef

Does anyone else find this approach a bit worrying, price before expertise

Nothing to do with the cheapest quote and everything to do with the biggest back hander.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Construction Expedited for 10 New Train Routes

Construction Expedited for 10 New Train Routes

UPDATE : 3 April 2012

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand or MRTA says it's going full steam ahead for the construction of ten more electric train routes.

Meanwhile, it's closely studying the possibility of capping the price of train tickets at just 20 baht once all the ten routes are operational.

Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand or MRTA Deputy Governor, Peerayuth Singpattanakul revealed the MRTA has submitted a progress report on the construction of ten electric train routes to the transport minister.

As per the government's request, Peerayuth reiterated the MRTA is closely studying the possibility of capping the train fare to just 20 baht once the ten routes are operational.

Peerayuth admitted that the purple-line construction, between Bang Sue and Bang Yai, has been delayed due to last year's floods.

Currently, the MRTA has asked the government to extend the construction deadline by another 180 days.

The MRTA deputy governor also spoke to reporters about the latest safety inspection by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency or JICA on the purple and dark blue routes.

Peerayuth said JICA is satisfied with the safety measures that have been put in place at the two routes.

Meanwhile, Peerayuth said he is aware of the rising cost the construction contractors are facing due to the new 300 baht minimum wage and fuel price hike.

The MRTA is willing to discuss with the contractors on how to best cope with the rising cost.

MRT Pink line to open for turnkey bids this year : National News Bureau of Thailand

MRT Pink line to open for turnkey bids this year

BANGKOK, 19 April 2012 (NNT) - The meeting of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) executive board today considers the progress of the elevated MRT Pink line project.

The MRT Pink line, scheduled to run from Khae Rai to Minburi, is proposed to be converted into a monorail system, covering a distance of 34.5 kilometers. Six more stations will be added on the route to link people to new trading centers and condominiums.

A larger area of land is also planned to be expropriated, particularly that surrounding Pak-kret intersection and Minburi market.

The project, estimated to be worth 50 billion baht, will be open for turnkey bids this year. The construction of the Pink line is expected to take 4 years.

The project is one of the Pheu Thai party's election campaign pledges. When it is completed, the MRTA aims to collect a flat-rate fare of 20 baht for the entire route.

for those that are interested

Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in Bangkok Metropolitan Region - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wonder if the bungs will be in different coloured envelopes. Bet the Hermans wont bid after the toll freeway ripoff. They may just be ready before the whole Delta sinks into the mire

Tunnel boring machine arrives in Bangkok
Date23 Apr 2012

A 6.44m-diameter EPB TBM has been delivered to Thailand-based contractor Italian-Thai Development PCL for use on Contract 1 of Bangkok’s Blue Line extension.

The machine had been handed over before to the contractor at a ceremony on March 27 in Guangshou, China, attended by officials of Thailand’s Mass Rapid Transit Authority.

Produced in Guangshou by Terratec, in association with Japan Tunnel Systems Corp (JTSC) – a subsidiary of Japan’s IHI Group – the machine uses IHI design and key parts for the shield, while Terratec’s design and parts are for the back-up system.

Terratec said it tailored the machine specifically for the project, and features IHI’s ‘unique’ Cone-type cutterhead, designed to cut any concrete piles that might be encountered along the tunnel alignment.

The handover of the unit is seen as significant for the development of Bangkok’s metro, seeing as it is the first TBM to bore there for ten years. The machine has been shipped to Bangkok, where it will be assembled to start excavation by the end of June.

world-tunnelling.com

Originally Posted by Mid

designed to cut any concrete piles that might be encountered

Hope those concrete piles aren't supporting anything important....

...like Skytrain pillars.

Originally Posted by Gerbil

Originally Posted by Mid

designed to cut any concrete piles that might be encountered

Hope those concrete piles aren't supporting anything important....

Or even Phua Thais integrity.

BMA inks B190bn skytrain deal | Bangkok Post: news

BMA inks B190bn skytrain deal

BTSC will operate city network until 2042

• Published: 4/05/2012 at 11:19 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The Bangkok Transit System Company is to be paid 190 billion baht by City Hall to operate the skytrain system until 2042.


People crowd the skytrain during the rush hour yesterday. With the number of passengers soon expected to exceed 500,000 a day, City Hall yesterday signed a contract with Bangkok Transit System Company to operate the skytrain for another 30 years. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

Under the contract signed with Krungthep Thanakhom, the business arm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, BTSC will be the sole operator of the current routes and three extension routes for 30 years.

The contract also allows BTSC to continue operating the 26km On Nut-Mor Chit and National Stadium-Taksin routes for another 13 years after the existing contract expires in 2029.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul defended the multi-billion-baht deal, saying it will not put the BMA at an disadvantage.

"It is much cheaper to sign the contract today than in 17 years [when the current contract ends]," said Mr Teerachon.

BMA had hired a consultant firm to work out the figures before making a decision, he said.

According to Mr Teerachon, the BMA is slated to earn 110 billion baht based on the contract.

"It is estimated that the BMA will earn 300 billion baht from service fees throughout the contract.

"After deducting 190 billion baht to be paid to BTSC, City Hall has an outstanding balance of 110 billion baht," he said.

Mr Teerachon said the estimated earning excludes other gains from commercial development along the infrastructure, including at stations and depots.

BMA is expected to collect about 100 billion baht more from commercial gains and assets, he added.

The signing of the contract comes less than a year before the term of Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra ends.

MR Sukhumbhand said the long-term contract will give BTSC an incentive to invest and improve services.

"Five years before the concession ends, BTSC is required to provide 60 trains. Currently, there are 23 trains. With a long-term contract, the concession holder will have more confidence," he said.

The governor declined to comment when asked if the long-term contract was intended to keep other political parties from meddling with the BMA's project.

Keeree Kanjanapas, founder and chairman of the BTSC, admitted yesterday the company's financial health has been significantly boosted by the contract.

He added that the company has weathered the recent financial crisis and thanked City Hall for entrusting BTSC to service the public.

Mr Keeree said there is nothing unusual in the fact that the BTSC's contract is much higher than that of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority's (MRTA) Purple Line, which is worth about 90 billion baht.



"BTSC operates a total of 36km, while the operator of the Purple Line runs 23km," he said.

The On Nut-Bearing and Taksin-Wong Wian Yai extension routes have recently opened for service, while the Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa extension is scheduled to begin partial service later this year. The contract for the On Nut-Bearing and Taksin-Wong Wian Yai routes will take effect next Tuesday while the contract for the Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa extension takes effect when the service starts.

Prapas Chongsanguan, a former governor of the MRTA which supervises the subway, yesterday objected to the long-term contract, saying a bidding process should be called to select an operator.

Mr Prapas, an assistant to the transport minister, pointed out that the BTSC is not the only firm with expertise in operating the skytrain.

Also, contract extensions will Normally only be considered five years before the initial term expires, he said.

He added that MR Sukhumbhand should also have waited until after the next Bangkok governor election.

Mr Prapas suggested the BMA's decision may violate the law, saying the Interior Ministry which supervises the agency should have the authority to make a decision in the matter.

He also alleged there had been an earlier resolution by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, that the skytrain system should be handed over to the MRTA when the current concession ends. However, he had no further details.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - Assistant to Transport Minister Raises Question over BMA's Extension of BTS Conce

Assistant to Transport Minister Raises Question over BMA's Extension of BTS Concession

UPDATE : 4 May 2012 Share

An assistant to the Transport Minister has raised a question as to why the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has rushed to give a 30-year extension to the Bangkok Mass Transit System's concession.

Assistant to the Transport Minister Prapas Jongsanguan has raised his suspicion as to why the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA has decided to extend the Bangkok Mass Transit System or BTS's operating rights of the capital's sky train service to 30 years, even though there are still 17 years left on the current contract.

Prapas claimed that this is improper because the BMA could only initiate a bidding process once the current concession has reached its 18th year in order to ensure fair competition.

He has asked the BMA how it can be so sure that other firms cannot operate the sky train service more cost-efficiently than the BTS, as there are many sky train lines.

Prapas also inquired into whether the BMA has consulted the concession extension with the Interior Ministry, which also has a stake in the project.

Moreover, according to the land transportation regulations, the BMA must transfer the rights over all of its mass transit rail systems to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand or MRTA.

BTS: Scuttling deal could delay new car purchases | Bangkok Post: news

BTS: Scuttling deal could delay new car purchases

• Published: 11/05/2012 at 01:51 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

BTS Group Holdings Plc, the operator of Bangkok's skytrain, said yesterday that its borrowing plans to fund new car purchases may hit a snag if the deal with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to run the system until 2042 falls through.

"In the worst case, we won't be able to secure loans to buy new carriages to accommodate future ridership growth," said chairman Keeree Kanjanapas.

But he called such a scenario unlikely and insisted that the company had done nothing wrong, saying the deal had been discussed with the city administration for years.

He defended keeping the talks confidential as a way to prevent an impact to share prices and said there was no rush to clinch the deal.

BTS last Thursday won a 30-year operation and maintenance (O&M) contract for the 5.25-kilometre On Nut-Bearing extension of the skytrain's Sukhumvit Line and for the 7.5-km Saphan Taksin-Wong Wian Yai route and Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa extension of the Silom Line.

The contract also allows BTS to continue operating the 23.5-km On Nut-Mo Chit and National Stadium-Saphan Taksin routes for an additional 13 years after the existing contract expires in 2029.

Under the new long-term O&M contract, BTS is committed to investing in 100 new carriages over the next 30 years to service both the original network and the Bangkok Mass Transit System.

At the end of the contract, BTS is required to transfer the carriages to Krungthep Thanakom, the company owned by BMA.

Mr Keeree said who insisted the deal was not a concession extension but rather a contract, the agreement will help BMA ensure that the current level of service is maintained and enhance system efficiency by having a single experienced operator managing both the Bangkok Mass Transit System and the original concession network.

The contract would also allow BTS to manage investment for additional fleets more effectively, he said. With a long-term contract, arrangements for new carriages costing 200-300 million baht each could be done in advance to ensure timely deployment to match growing ridership.

Moreover, BTS would be able to negotiate on a long-term basis with suppliers and have better bargaining power. Such benefits could be passed on to commuters, in addition to the convenience from having broader network coverage.

The fate of the long-term contract has become uncertain after the Pheu Thai Party questioned the "rush" to sign the deal. Yesterday it asked the Department of Special Investigation to probe the 188-billion-baht contract.

Governor defends long-term BTS deal | Bangkok Post: news

Governor defends long-term BTS deal

DSI says it will probe Pheu Thai concerns

• Published: 11/05/2012 at 01:39 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra has defended the City Hall's decision to sign a long-term deal with the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc to operate the skytrain.

He has also vowed to block the government from taking over the Green Line electric train line.

MR Sukhumbhand made the comment after the Pheu Thai Party filed a complaint with DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith yesterday.

He accused the BMA of violating the Public-Private Joint Venture Act and the Anti-Price Collusion Act by signing the contract with the BTS.

The ruling party also said the contract signing was conducted in a rush as the term of Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand would end in eight months while the present electric train concession of the company had 17 more years to go.

Under the new contract, signed on May 3, the BMA has hired BTS for 190 billion baht to run electric trains on two extended routes of the Green Line electric railway for 30 years.

The contract also allows BTS to continue its train services on the original 23km Green Line system from 2029 to 2042.

MR Sukhumbhand, of the Democrat Party, yesterday said the BMA's decision to extend BTS's services on the Green Line was not rushed but had been studied since last year and it was aimed at curbing fares.

The governor said he had heard that the government planned to transfer the Green Line railway from the BMA to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority.

The planned transfer was unfair because the skytrain project was launched by former Bangkok governor Chamlong Srimuang and later former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin had resolved to have the BMA invest in its extended routes.

"The BMA and BTS have worked it out together. When it is successful, the government just wants it," MR Sukhumbhand said.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said after receiving the petition from Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit that the DSI will consider whether the BMA violated the Anti-Price Collusion Act.

The DSI is responsible for suppressing price collusion in the government sector.

Keeree Kanjanapas, chairman of BTS Group Holdings Plc, the operator of Bangkok's skytrain, yesterday insisted the company had studied laws and regulations about the deal and insisted the company has done nothing wrong.

As a single operator, commuters can rest assured of connectivity and convenience, he said.

Mr Keeree insisted the contract awarded is just the operation and maintenance (O&M) contract, not any sort of concession or concession extension.

"If we have to convince private companies to invest in a new carriage, which is generally worth 200-300 million a unit, a one-year contract doesn't make commercial sense.

"You need the long-term contract for the sake of cost benefits," he said.

Deputy Bangkok governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul said BTS would receive only a return for its train services on the Green Line and would not share any loss or profit from the operations of the system.

It did not represent a public-private joint venture which would have to be scrutinised under the Public-Private Joint Venture Act.

Thai-ASEAN News Network - BTS: 30 Year Concession is Lawfully Approved



BTS: 30 Year Concession is Lawfully Approved

UPDATE : 11 May 2012

The Bangkok Mass Transit System has insisted upon the legality of its 30-year concession to operate the capital's skytrain lines, while asking all sides not to politicize the issue.

President of the Bangkok Mass Transit System, or BTS, Keeree Kanjanapas, has remarked on the company's recent signing of a 30-year concession agreement to operate the capital's skytrain lines, reaffirming that the agreement was legally approved, and that the issue is a matter of a private firm's operation, not a political one.

The BTS president explained that the contract signing is not an extension to the existing agreement, but it is rather an undertake to upgrade the service in order to accommodate the growing number of passengers.

He added that the company will be purchasing more trains and expanding the service capacity.

According to the latest report, BTS has consulted with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in offering passengers aged at least 60 years old 50% off on their fares.

The discount will be offered on holidays, weekends and weekdays from 9 AM to 4 PM and 8 PM to midnight, to promote ridership among senior citizens. The trial is expected to last a year and start in June.

Pheu Thai calls on NACC over skytrain deal | Bangkok Post: news

Pheu Thai calls on NACC over skytrain deal

• Published: 13/05/2012 at 02:30 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The Pheu Thai Party will ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra over City Hall's new long-term deal with the current operator of the skytrain.

The party will also seek an injunction from the Administrative Court to put the deal on hold.

Pheu Thai MP Jirayu Huangsap said the party's anti-graft panel believes Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) executives breached laws and regulations in its dealings with Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), the company which runs the city's skytrain lines.

Even though their present contract has 17 years remaining, BMA signed a new contract with BTS to operate train services on its original 23km route for another 13 years from 2029 to 2042.

The BTS has also been hired to operate the services on two extended routes.

Under the new deal both this contract and the one for the original route will expire in 30 years.

Mr Jirayu said the contract was signed hastily considering the present arrangement still has 17 years to go.

Mr Jirayu said BMA executives' decision to award lucrative contracts worth 190 billion baht to BTS without bidding appears to violate laws, including those pertaining to price collusion and joint public-private investment. He said the case might be similar to CAT Telecom's 3G agreements with True Corp.

The NACC has agreed to look into alleged irregularities in the 3G deals.

CAT has been accused of bypassing state procedures, violating the 1992 Public-Private Joint Venture Act, the 2010 Frequency Allocation Law and Section 157 of the Criminal Code.

Deputy Democrat spokeswoman Mallika Boonmeetrakul yesterday accused Pheu Thai of politicising the deals ahead of campaigns for the Bangkok governor election, slated to start soon.

The Democrat MP also said the party would next week ask the Office of the Attorney-General and the NACC to report the progress of an inquiry into a Krung Thai Bank loan worth nine billion baht for private companies.

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his son, Panthongtae, are among 37 people alleged to have illegally obtained approval for the loan.

Ms Mallika said her party's repeated demands for both agencies to report progress in the case have fallen on deaf ears.

She said the party would also ask the Department of Special Investigation and the Royal Thai Police to speed up the investigation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accused of providing false testimony in Thaksin's assets-seizure case.

TAN Network ‏
@TAN_Network

Deputy PM Kittirat to start another round of auction for red line electrical train following delays

Thai-ASEAN News Network - BTS: 30 Year Concession is Lawfully Approved

"LAWFULLY APPROVED?"..................Well, that is in question isn't it.

Just another indication this TANN outlet is in bed with the Amart and Democrats, even though it pretends otherwise.

When considering the degree of propagandized media, which one is the most egregious - The Post, Nation or this TANN?

TAN is the most biased. I only post about 10% of the stuff they produce on an average day. However, they do publish articles that others don't.........

PR war over Skytrain deal heats up - The Nation

PR war over Skytrain deal heats up

Praphan Jindalertudomdee,
Thanatpong Kongsai
The Nation May 15, 2012 1:00 am

Pheu Thai Party says BMA contract with BTSC lost capital Bt6.47 billion

The Pheu Thai Party continued its attack on the Bangkok administration's extension of the Skytrain contract yesterday, claiming the city "lost" Bt6.47 billion "for nothing".

However, administrators say the deal saved the city Bt6 billion in transport costs.

Maha Sarakham MP Yutthapong Jarassathien attacked the deal in a meeting in the Lower House of Parliament. He said a decision by Krungthep Thanakom Co Ltd, the investment arm of the Democrat-led Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), to award Bangkok Transit System Co (BTSC) a 13-year extension, when BTSC still had 17 years left on its contract, enabled BTSC to monopolise the Skytrain operation. BTSC, a subsidiary of BTS Group Holdings, is the current contractor.

Yutthapong alleged this caused the city to lose Bt6.47 billion for nothing, as the money would be paid as compensation to BTSC for the income lost over Skytrain extensions.

The money would come from city coffers, so it may violate regulations, because city funds should be used for emergencies such as a disaster or flood, he said.

DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION

Yutthapong said he would ask the House Committee on Local Administration to probe the contract.

The BMA hired Krungthep Thanakom (KT) to run the mass transit system and the contract that KT drew up with BTSC let the latter operate and maintain the Skytrain.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said he would complain to the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission today and to the House Committee on Corruption Prevention and Suppression tomorrow. On Thursday he would ask the Interior Ministry to probe the city's claim that it didn't need ministry approval to extend the contract.

But Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaipiboon, accompanied by KT executive Amorn Kitchawengkul, told a press conference yesterday that the contract extension was legitimate and the city was ready to clarify any doubts surrounding the move.

He said the contract extension backed by the Bangkok Council would give the city the power to control the Skytrain and fares, and thus prevent long-term impacts on people. The BMA was authorised by law to make the decision without having to seek permission from the Interior Ministry, he added.

Amorn said the Bt190 billion budget to hire BTSC to run the Skytrain for 30 years wasn't set carelessly. KT had Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration at Chulalongkorn University and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimate expenses, and KT had negotiated to get this price, which was Bt1.8 billion cheaper than the international standard. He said a recent study also found this 30-year contract actually saved the city up to Bt6 billion in transport costs compared to the existing 17-year contract.

Skytrain deal 'requires no govt consent' | Bangkok Post: news

Skytrain deal 'requires no govt consent'

• Published: 15/05/2012 at 02:05 AM
• Newspaper section: News

City Hall insists its decision to award a 190 billion baht contract to the skytrain operator requires no consent from the Interior Ministry.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act authorises the city to have its business arm, Krungthep Thanakom, hire Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) to run the skytrain, Bangkok deputy governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul said yesterday.

Krungthep Thanakom signed a contract with BTSC rather than grant a concession which would require approval from the ministry.

"Granting a concession would never happen because the Bangkok governor doesn't want to renew the concession," Mr Teerachon said.

He was responding to the Pheu Thai Party's accusation that City Hall broke the law by making a deal with the BTSC on May 3 to allow it to operate the 26km skytrain route and three extension lines for 30 years, until 2042.

The city opted to sign the contract rather than award a concession because it wants to maintain its power to oversee the rail operation and set appropriate fares for commuters, he said.

If a concession was granted, City Hall would be barred from getting involved in setting the fare structure.

Pheu Thai has also questioned why City Hall rushed to make the deal even though the existing contract on the 26km route will last until 2029.

Krungthep Thanakom managing director Amorn Kitchawengkul defended City Hall's decision, citing the financial benefits. The city wants a "higher bargaining power" when discussing wages with BTSC, he said.

If it waits for another 17 years and then signs the contract, it may face factors that may enable the operator to bargain for more wages which would put the city at a disadvantage.

"The 30-year hire is also cheaper than a 17-year hire by more than 6 billion baht," Mr Amorn said, referring to a joint study by the city's advisers.

Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham Yutthaphong Charatsathian said an inquiry into the deal must go ahead as he still suspects the city will lose rather than gain under the 30-year contract.

Sukhumbhand, three others named in complaints - The Nation

Sukhumbhand, three others named in complaints

ANAPAT DEECHUAY
THE NATION May 16, 2012 1:00 am


Pheu Thai MPs yesterday filed a complaint against Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and three other people to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) over a controversial contract recently granted to the current operator of the Skytrain system.

The 30-year contract is worth about Bt190 billion. Also named in the complaint were Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon, Krungthep Thanakhom Co Ltd (KT) chairman Praphanpong Vejjajiva and KT president Amorn Kitchawengkul.

They were included because the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) awarded the contract to the operator, BTSC, via KT, which is the BMA's legal investment arm.

"They deliberately tried to evade four laws including the Public-Private Partnerships Act," Pheu Thai Bangkok MP Jirayu Huangsap said.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit showed up at the NACC headquarters alongside Jirayu.

"We want the NACC to look into this contract," he said.

Prompong said the BMA-arranged contract is clearly suspicious, because the BTSC - which won the 30-year concession to operate the original 23.5-km Skytrain network - cannot be granted a contract extension without prior approval from a minister. But the BMA managed to evade laws and rules by preparing the contract via KT. Under the recently granted contract, BTSC will continue to provide operations and maintenance services on the original network for an additional 13 years after its 30-year concession expires in 2030.

The new contract covers three Skytrain extension routes in which the BMA itself invested. Their combined length is about 12.75 kilometres. All these newer routes are and will be operated and maintained by the BTSC, according to the contract, for the next three decades.

NACC assistant secretary-general Wittaya Arkompitak yesterday accepted the complaint from the Pheu Thai MPs.

Last week, the Pheu Thai MPs asked the Department of Special Investigation to probe the case.

Today, they will also call on the House anti-corruption committee to take action.

"[Tomorrow]On Thursday, we will ask the interior minister to look into the alleged irregularities too," Prompong said.

Jirayu believed Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva should look into the alleged irregularities.

Sukhumbhand, who leads the BMA, is a prominent member of the Democrat Party. Praphanpong is a relative of Abhisit.

Jirayu believed the amount of money promised to the BTSC via the contract was too high for the services.

"If the BMA really thinks the contract will benefit Bangkokians, why doesn't it lower the Skytrain-ride fare now?" the Pheu Thai MP said.

Though on the average the contract will require the BMA, via KT, to pay about Bt6.33 billion to BTSC each year for the next three decades, the BMA maintains that the contract will deliver long-term benefits including efficient integration of the mass-transport system in the capital.

The goal of this 30-year contract, the BMA has said, is to lower the operating costs of mass-transport services in the capital.

State committed to mass transit | Bangkok Post: business

State committed to mass transit

• Published: 23/05/2012 at 02:17 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

The government is committed to investing 1.64 trillion baht to develop 10 mass transit routes and logistics-related projects over the next seven years.

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan yesterday proposed infrastructure and logistics development plans through 2018 to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong. Mr Kittiratt promised to give full financial support to the projects.

Mr Jarupong said the two ministries will later establish a joint committee to refine the proposals and raise funds for development.

The two ministries agreed the government needs to speed up investment for the Asean Economic Community.

The remaining 1 trillion baht will be spent on air, water, and rail transportation infrastructure. This will include the expansion of Suvarnabhumi airport and the development of dual-track and high-speed trains.

The government said recently it would scrap bids for Red Line work to ensure it receives 70 billion baht from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to finance the project.

The State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) board earlier decided to scrap bids for the third Red Line contract, involving electrical and signalling-system work worth 26.7 billion baht, after four bidders failed to qualify.

The SRT, which supervises the Red Line, faces severe problems in undertaking the project, especially the need to remove public utilities along the route.