The Purple Line's southern section and the Orange Line are expected to seek Public-Private Partnership (PPP) committee approval next year, says the head of the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo).
The panel, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, yesterday acknowledged the progress of eight fast-track projects under the PPP scheme, including the Purple and Orange line electric trains, said Ekniti Nitithanprapas, the director-general of Sepo.
He expects the private sector will be invited next year to bid on the Purple Line, linking Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road and Tao Poon, and the Orange Line, linking Bang Khun Non and Min Buri.
An electric rail route connecting Phuket airport and Chalong Circle and another project in Chiang Mai are expected to go before the committee next year.
The remaining fast-track projects include a motorway from Bang Pa-in to Nakhon Ratchasima and another from Bang Yai to Kanchanaburi. They are expected to sign contracts by next year, Mr Ekniti said.
Details of rest areas for the two motorways and for a motorway connecting Nakhon Pathom to Cha-am in Phetchaburi should be ready for the committee's approval in 2018.
The committee also assigned Sepo to coordinate with the Transport Ministry on electric rail lines in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima to support local economic development under the PPP fast-track scheme.
Mr Ekniti said the committee yesterday also acknowledged an 11-billion-baht commercial development plan of the State of Railway of Thailand (SRT) central rail station at Bang Sue.
"However, the committee advised that the SRT should consider the development of Zone A as a part of the whole master plan for the development of the area and submit it to the committee again as soon as possible," he said.
Zone A, which covers 32 rai, is among four plots at the station set to be developed for commercial purposes under the PPP model.
The SRT proposed that the area to be entirely developed by the private sector under the build, operate and transfer approach with a construction period of four years and an operating period of 30 years.
The other three plots are Zone B covering 78 rai, Zone C covering 105 rai and Zone D covering 87.5 rai.
Mr Ekniti said the committee also approved a border freight station in Nakhon Phanom worth 1.2 billion baht, proposed by the Department of Land Transport in accordance with state policy to develop infrastructure and logistics in border economic zones.