Bangkok’s Green Line railway debt passed onto incoming government

[webfact]

 

Citing a Government House authority, it was disclosed yesterday that the existing cabinet has chosen to pass the responsibility of resolving the debt affiliated with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) contract with Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) onto the incoming government. The obligation arose from assigning BTSC to oversee the operations of the Green Line extension.

 

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda communicated to the cabinet the debt BMA is obligated to settle with BTS Group Holdings. This is due to the commissioning of BTSC to oversee the operations for the extension of the Green Line and its worth is estimated to be around 78 billion baht.

 

The cabinet recognised the unresolved debt and agreed to transfer it to the succeeding government for resolution, acknowledging that it was beyond the reach of the interim government to rectify.

 

Photo of Mitch Connor

Image courtesy of Khaosod English

 

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Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/bangkoks-green-line-railway-debt-passed-onto-incoming-government

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-06

 

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[PETERTHEEATER]

I trust they will deduct a reasonable commission before doing so.

[billd766]

Great plan.

 

Dump onto the incoming government that the current caretaker government should have done months ago.

 

I think it is called kicking the can down the road.

[Srikcir]

50 minutes ago, billd766 said:

I think it is called kicking the can down the road.

It's more likely "crushing the can" that can't produce a kickback on the debt payment just ahead of a national election wherein PM Prayut campaigned partially on fighting corruption. 

[kingstonkid]

The challenge is that when the extensions were being opened, Prayut said to en it but not charge extra.  That means that it costs the same to go from Mor Chit to Siam as it does to go from Khu Kot to Siam. The government said they would pay for the infrastructure and reneged. Courts have agreed. Now it is time from someone to pen their wallets.

 

The problem is that BMA does not get enough tax dollars to do this and other projects and the previous BMA kicked it down the road.  The new Governor said hey we agree but have o money and after all it was you Prayut that authorized the extensions.  You guys should pay for it.  

 

While the media complains that the cost is too high ridership keeps rising so the price can nat be too bad.

 

45 Baht from Siam Paragon to Khukot is still the cheapest fair in town.