Red Line auction to be completed by this govt, says Arkhom

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Red Line auction to be completed by this govt, says Arkhom

BANGKOK:-- THE AUCTION process for the trains and rail system for the Mass Rapid Transit’s Red Line (Bang Sue-Rangsit), which has been ongoing since 2010, will definitely be completed by the current government, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said yesterday. Meanwhile, private involvement in the construction and operation of the Pink and Yellow lines is being discussed within the ministry, after which proposals will be submitted to the Public-Private Partnership Committee, he said.

Investment projects to improve road infrastructure - such as the maintenance of 6,000 kilometres of roads along economic corridors, the upgrading and expansion of traffic lanes on 2,400km of roads, and the connection from Mae Sot's border checkpoint to Myanmar - are all expected to commence next year, he added.

The auction for the Suvarnabhumi Phase II contract to increase the international airport's capacity to around 60 million visitors per year, from the current 45 million, is ongoing and construction should commence next year, the minister said, adding that the expansion should be operational in 2019.

The establishment of the first centre for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul and research and development purposes will commence at U-Tapao Airport next year, while the area deemed suitable for the aero cluster is expected to be the industrial estate on the Eastern seaboard, Akhom said.

Meanwhile, the single public-transportation ticket scheme will be in place and operational by May next year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Red-Line-auction-to-be-completed-by-this-govt-says-30275555.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-24