The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) will speed up talks with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to demolish some of the city’s elevated railways to make way for the Orange Line. The western section of the Bang Khun Non-Min Buri rail system is expected to open in 2030.
MRTA acting president Vithaya Poonmongkol said a notice to proceed (NTP) was issued to concessionaire Orange Line Bangkok Expressway & Metro (BEM) on July 31.
EGTT is procuring the mechanical and electrical systems for the eastern section of the line, from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Minburi. This section of the project is expected to take three years and six months to complete, with commissioning scheduled for late 2027 or early 2028.
On the western section, from Bang Khun Non to the Thailand Cultural Centre, contractors building the tunnel and metro station have entered public areas to prepare construction sites.
The current phase includes surveying the infrastructure, utilities and communications systems to plan the move. The move is expected to take between four and nine months.
The land acquisition will be carried out in accordance with the Royal Decree on Land Acquisition and funds will be allocated until 2025. The budget for land management and property survey in the western region is 14 billion baht.
The expropriation plan calls for the demolition of 380 plots of land, 410 properties and about 400 buildings.
Mr Vithaya said the MRTA would soon discuss with the Bangkok administration the issue of demolishing three interchanges in Pratunam, Ratchathewi and Suthawasa.
Permission and approval from the Department of Fine Arts will also be obtained for construction in the conservation area of Bangkok’s Old City.
The MRTA Acting Governor also gave an update on the progress of the 23.63km Southern Purple Line project from Tao Pun to Rat Buran.
Mr Wittaya said the railway system was 42.18 per cent complete and was expected to be operational by 2028.
The train operation study is expected to be completed next month and presented to the MRTA board and then to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee.
The franchisee selection process is expected to begin early next year, with services expected to begin in 2029.
As of the end of September, the total work volume for the 3km extension of the Pink Line from Sri Rata to Muang Thong Thani was 71.09%.
Post time: Mar-20-2025