Srt 'ready To Accept Bids For Red Line'

[ThaiGoon]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Mar2007_news11.php

SRT 'ready to accept bids for Red Line'

Construction forecast to start in October

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

The State Railway of Thailand has set conditions for building the 15km Red Line rapid transit railway from Bang Sue to Taling Chan and is ready to accept bids from contractors, an SRT source said. Construction, expected to cost 12 billion baht, is forecast to start in October and to be completed in three years.

The terms of reference, open to both local and foreign bids, have gone to Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen who will submit them to the cabinet for approval.

If approved, the SRT will invite tenders through an electronic auction system next month, the source said.

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Meanwhile, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) is preparing details of two other electric railways _ the Purple Line from Bang Yai to Bang Sue, and the extended Blue Line loop from Hua Lamphong via Tha Phra to Bang Khae and from Bang Sue to Tha Phra.

MRTA chairman Kriangsak Lohachala said the two lines are estimated to cost a total of 81.7 billion baht.

The Purple Line will be built first, he said. Details of the line will be finished in four months and construction should start this year.