Thai Cabinet nods for Red Line rail transit construction plans

BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - The Thai Cabinet has approved construction plans of two-route Red Line mass rail transit system in Bangkok, set to be completed by 2020. Kobsak Pootrakool, Vice Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, told journalists of the Cabinet's decision on July 26. Kobsak stated that the Thai Cabinet, at its weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House earlier in the day, endorsed the construction plans of the Light Red electric train line, linking Bang Sue, Phaya Thai, Makkasan and Hua Mak areas in the capital, and the Dark Red electric train line, running from Bang Sue to Hua Lamphong areas in the capital, with a total budget of 44 billion baht. Kobsak said the two 26-kilometer rail lines, where there will be nine stations, will connect northern Bangkok to the city’s eastern suburbs and to the city's center, comprising of ground, elevated and underground structures. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT), which is in charge of the construction plans, is expected to call bids for the projects late next month and the construction is set to be started in February 2017. The two new routes, once opened for public services, will connect with another electric train line, also under SRT supervision, running from Bang Sue to Rangsit and Taling Chan. Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters that Prime Minsiter General Prayut Chan-ocha has suggested that apart from a compensation to some 1,000 households whose housing areas were expropriated for the construction of the two-route electric train lines, the provision of new houses for them needs to be offered to avoid future complaints. Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Chivapreuk noted that the Thai government has earmarked a 191-million baht-budget for the expropriation compensation and his ministry plans to discuss with the Minsitry of Social Development and Human Security for cooperation on the assistance. (TNA)