Cabinet approves BEM to manage Orange Line

Government House, Cabinet approves BEM to manage the Orange Line, opening in 2028, fare 15-44 baht Mr. Chai Wachirong, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, said that the Cabinet approved the results of the private sector selection and the joint investment contract for the Orange Line electric train project, Bang Khun Non-Min Buri (Suwitwong) section, worth 140 billion baht, with BEM as the winner of the bid, after the project had problems with lawsuits in the Administrative Court for a long time. When the Supreme Administrative Court dismissed the case, the Ministry of Transport proceeded with the project because the rail system construction was almost complete in the Cultural Center-Min Buri section. Because Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) proposed a budget to support the construction of 78 billion baht, less than the 102 billion baht offered by Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (ITD). After this, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is preparin g to sign a contract with the private sector that won the BEM auction on Thursday, July 18. The concession period is 30 years, starting from the opening of the Orange Line from Cultural Center to Min Buri, expected to open in 2028. For collecting fares of 15-44 baht in the first 10 years, then every 2 years, the fares will be adjusted to be in line with the inflation rate. The government does not have to subsidize the fares. It is accepted that the Orange Line will be one of the projects joining the 20 baht flat rate policy using subsidies from the joint ticket system fund. For the construction plan for the Orange Line, the eastern side, Cultural Center-Min Buri (Suwinthawong) section, the service is scheduled for May 2028 and the project will be open for service along the entire route, Bang Khun Non-Min Buri (Suwinthawong) section, within November 2030. Source: Thai News Agency