Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith wants a section of elevated rail route linking Soi Bearing and Samrong to be open sooner rather than later despite City Hall's announcement of a possible delay, a source at the ministry says.
City officials said earlier the route, part of the Green Line extension which is better known as the elevated rail line, was on track for a May 1 opening, not March 1 as originally scheduled.
"That was only their announcement," the source said, adding Mr Arkhom has urged the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which oversees the Green Line extension project, to find ways to open it as soon as possible for the benefit of commuters.
The minister indicated the faster people can start using the short section, the earlier the whole project can move ahead, the source quoted Mr Arkhom as saying.
However, the source said, the exact opening date cannot be easily set because of the many legal requirements involved. Only Section 44 of the interim charter, which is exercised by the prime minister, can put operations on a fast-track, the source said.
The section is part of the Soi Bearing-Samut Prakan route of the Green Line extension, which is under construction. The extended route will link to stations along the existing elevated track, overseen by City Hall and now serving commuters travelling from Bangkok's outskirts to the city's business areas on Sukhumvit Road and the Siam Square shopping complex.
The Green Line extension project, however, hit a snag after the MRTA agreed to transfer it to the supervision of city officials. A key condition is that City Hall is required to pay several billions of baht to take over the operation.
"The whole project is still unclear in three parts," the source said, referring to Mr Arkhom's worry over fare rates, revenue sharing between the government and the company hired to run the service.
So far it has been unclear whether the City Hall is able to pay the MRTA. The City Council meets tomorrow on its plan.
City administrators have asked the councilors to approve a 3.5-billion-baht budget for the transfer. If it turns out that the request is rejected, the Transport Ministry must think of a new plan to operate this section of Green Line, deputy Bangkok governor Pol Lt Gen Amnoy Nimmano said. The final decision now rests with the council, he said.
The MRTA has prepared a new plan in the event the BMA cannot pay for the extension. It will hire the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc, operator of the skytrain service, to operate this part of the Green Line.
In another development, the MRTA expects to open another elevated rail route section linking Bang Sue and Tao Poon on Aug 9, earlier than its original schedule of Aug 12, said MRTA governor Peerayudh Singpatanakul. A contract to hire Bangkok Expressway and Metro to run the service will be signed on Thursday.