The Transport Ministry expects to call a bid for the Purple Line southern extension linking Tao Poon to Rat Burana next year.
Speaking during a seminar on infrastructure opportunities under Thailand 4.0, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Thursday the ministry was now drafting the terms of reference (ToR) for the railway project. After the ToR are completed, he expects bidding would be held to seek a contractor next year and construction to begin by the end of next year.
In July, Mr Arkhom was more optimistic about the timing, saying bids for the 23.6km Tao Poon-Rat Burana section, part of the Kanchanaphisek Ring Road, would likely be held in October after the cabinet approved the 101-billion-baht southern extension of the Purple Line. He has now pushed that out to next year.
Besides the Purple Line southern extension, Mr Arkhom said the ministry also plans to put to the cabinet a proposal for the West Orange electric railroad connecting the Thailand Cultural Centre to Taling Chan. It hopes to get the green light by early next year.
As for the Pink, Yellow and East Orange lines, contractors have been sought for all projects, which will be built simultaneously early next year. Mr Arkhom said the ministry has invested in national transport infrastructure an amount of around 2.39 trillion baht during 2015-2017.
About 80% of the investment value is in railway transport. The ministry also plans to invest more in water transport, particularly sea ports in preparation for Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) which will link all transport modes across the country.
The cost of water transport is the lowest, followed by railway and road transport respectively, while air transport is most expensive. In Thailand, 85% of transportation is by road.
Regarding air transport, Mr Arkhom said the ministry would speed up the expansion of Krabi airport where parking bays and a passenger terminal would be widened to tackle congestion. The ministry also plans to build another airport in Phangnga as well as expand Phuket airport, he said.
Khon Kaen airport would also be upgraded to an international airport while an expansion would be implemented at nearby Udon Thani airport as well.
Mr Arkhom said the air industry is expected to grow next year as airlines would increase their operating routes after the International Civil Aviation Organisation's red flag was lifted.
Meanwhile, transport permanent secretary Chartchai Thipsunawee said designs for an upgrade of Saphan Taksin skytrain station in Bangkok would be completed by a consultant next month. The platform would be expanded, and the current single track widened to double tracks to accommodate a rise in train frequency.