The cabinet has green-lighted two Red Line electric railway extensions -- Taling Chan to Salaya and Rangsit to Thammasat University routes -- to further facilitate travel from Bangkok.
The two sections will be added to the original Red Line connecting Taling Chan in western Bangkok, Bang Sue in the northern part of the capital and Rangsit in Pathum Thani. The Taling Chan-Bang Sue-Rangsit route covers a distance of 41 kilometres.
The government needs a budget of 10.2 billion baht for the Taling Chan-Salaya extension, called the Light Red Line, and 6.5 billion baht for the Rangsit-Thammasat University Rangsit campus, dubbed the Dark Red Line, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Arkhom: 3 more stations to be built
It also decided to build three more stations – Rama VI, Bang Kruai and Chimphli -- along the route toward Taling Chan, he said.
The government plans to secure funding for the construction, which will be overseen by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said.
"The construction period is set for five years for these two railway extensions," he said.
Mr Arkhom said on Tuesday his ministry also planned to ask the cabinet to approve a Red Line section linking Taling Chan and Siriraj next Tuesday.
The 26-km Bang Sue-Rangsit section, with 10 stations, is currently under construction.
The SRT expects to open it, along with Bang Sue Central Station, in early 2021.
The Red Line is being developed as part of a government plan to make railroads within 500km of Bangkok mainly electric ones, according to SRT acting governor Worawut Mala.