The drafting of the contract to hire a firm to operate the Orange Line's eastern section needs to be expedited to avoid delaying its opening in two years, says the Highways Department.
A source in the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) said the draft contract was ready to be forwarded to the Attorney-General Office for legal vetting before it goes back to the MRTA board.
After that, the contract will be submitted to the Transport Ministry and later to the cabinet. The department director-general, Sarawut Songsiwilai, said the MRTA board had prioritised the selection of the firm to operate the route. The project has been underway since 2019.
The contract needs pushing as the civil engineering work on the eastern section of the route, from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri, has progressed to more than 98%.
If the contract issue could be wrapped up promptly, the route could be up and running as scheduled in 2025.
Mr Sarawut said that once the operator is hired, train carriages will be brought into service in the next two years, which would not disrupt the opening plan.
"The MRTA board wants the contract business finished sooner rather than later. It's an urgent task to prevent disruption to public services," he said.
"Even though the issue needs to move fast, it will be considered thoroughly," he said.
The Orange Line is designed to consist of two sections.
The eastern section, currently being constructed, is scheduled to open in August 2025 while the train service on the western section is due to follow in December 2027.