The Current State Of Bangkok's Mass Transit Projects

The Bangkok BTS Silom Road Extension (Green Line) construction of the Taksin –Bang Wa route, which is 5.3 kilometers long, is currently waiting for approval by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for the use of a road island on Taksin – Petchkasem Road. The Department of Rural Roads (DORR) will coordinate with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) in adjusting the structure plan of the blue line (Hualumpong – Bang Kea and Bang Sue - Tha Phra extensions) and the Silom Road Extension at stations near the intersection of Bang Wa (S12) to allow the construction of the Taksin-Bang Wa extension which will be completed and opened on December 5, 2012.
The construction project of the Blue Line MRT by the government was designed to go over the roof of the Silom MRT extension at Bang Wa station (S12) which will need a plan adjustment. BMA will propose a reduction in the Bang Wa (S12) station roof and ask for cooperation by the MRTA in readjusting the planning and construction on some parts of the Blue Line MRT by elevating the track near the intersection. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) revealed that the construction progress of the Red Line MRT at Bang Sue-Talingchan extension infrastructure is at 82% which is 10% lower than the original plan estimate is and expected to be completed by January 2012. The construction of the Red Line MRT Bang Sue-Talingchan extension may be delayed because of price negotiations between the Auction Committee and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This  has created a delay of over three months with no end in sight yet.
DORR revealed that the construction of the tunnel at the Rajpruk and Nakhon Inn roundabout in Nonthaburi Province is near completion. The project's master plan was scheduled to open on Sept. 30, but with the current situation with floods in many areas and the expected water which will gradually flow to Pathumthani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok provinces, the opening of the tunnel will be delayed. The water protection and drainage system cannot be 100% tested and the concern is that if it is opened for use now there might behave electrical problems in the tunnel. However, it is expect to be open by October-November which is not later than contract deadline.
Under the contract, the work should be completed in early 2012 with construction costs of 197 million baht. It will consist of six traffic lanes at 31 meters wide and 681 meters in length which run along Rajpruk Road. It will optimize traffic flow from Talingchan to Rattanathibet Road and reduce traffic bottlenecks due to the expansion of two lanes on each side of the bridge over the Bangkok Noi canal on Rajpruk. Once this project is completed it will help solve traffic congestion and reduce the number of accidents in this area.
The Ministry of Finance will request the cabinet to approve a loan and lend to the MRTA 37,219 million baht to construct the dark green MRT line running from Morchit – Sapan Mai at a cost of 19,381 million baht.  And also part of the total is the light green MRT line from Bearings – Samut Prakarn costing 17,838 million baht. The Government Budget Bureau will be responsible for considering the  allocation of the yearly budget for the MRTA for debt repayment to other lenders including principal, interest and other costs involved.