Bangkok government is “relieved” by the passage of the resources to assist in resolving long-standing debt issues.
PUBLISHED: February 7, 2024, at 18:57
A budget of up to 23.4 billion baht has been approved by the Bangkok Metropolitan Council to pay Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc ( BTSC ) for the construction and maintenance of the second Green Line extension.
At a meeting that was also attended by Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, executives of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ), and other state officials, the draft ordinance received 43 votes in favor with one abstention.
According to Napapon Chirakul, a council for the Bangkok Noi area and the chairman of the committee reviewing the document, the resources would enable the BMA to acquire the assets from the expansion line and to pay the long-overdue costs for electrical and mechanical work and operations borne by BTSC.
The Golden Line rail at Samrong place and the Pink Line at Wat Phra Si Mahathat station are connected by the Green Line’s following extension. Last month, the BMA started charging people on the extension a smooth suffer of 15 baht per trip.
In order to focus on planning the money for various projects, the board urged the BMA to increase resources spending for the E&, M job.
For the sake of clarity and everyone’s benefit, the screen has reviewed the draft ordinance by adherence to relevant laws, according to Mr. Napapon.
The BMA’s Customers and Transport Department, according to Mr. Chadchart, will discuss the specifics of the 23.4 billion ringgit in investing with KT Corporation and BTSC on Thursday.
The government expressed his relief that the council members had approved of it. “KT may make an effort to haggle over a lower payment with BTSC.”
For operating and maintaining the Green Line, the BMA and its business arm Krungthep Thanakhom (KT ) owe BTSC about 30 billion baht.