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November 20, 2020
126
“BTS” to win the concession agreement conclusion before opening the extension of Wat Phra Sri – Khu Khot Station Confirm the bus as scheduled on December 16, “Kiri” ordered the end of the bus, although not paid yet. I hope I don’t affect people
The extension of the concession contract for the MRT Green Line project, which has spanned over 1 year, has resulted in Bangkok not setting a budget to pay salaries for the extension. And become an ongoing problem that is linked to many problems.
Mr. Surapong Laohha-Anya President Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited Or BTS revealed that BTS is monitoring the progress of the project’s concession renewal.Green Line MetroBetween Bangkok and BTS After the cabinet (cabinet) to go back and make more details according to the comments discussed in the cabinet.
The contract renewal is expected to be finalized before the extension of the Wat Phra Si Mahathat Green Line – Khu Khot Station. It is ready as planned on December 16, 2020 so that other areas can continue to operate. This will bring a conclusion on the new charging of fares on the entire Green Line route with a price of no more than 65 baht on the entire line after the opening of the free service of the Mo Chit station extension. Khu Khot Y Bearing Station – Samut Prakan Housing Station
Mr. Surapong said that in the past, BTS shareholders had been briefed on the progress of the contract extension and the progress of the payment of the Bangkok metropolitan buses. BTS has sent a letter to Bangkok regarding the payment of wages for the train extension.
Further Mr. Keeree Kanjanapas, Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee Please confirm that BTS has never announced a stop on the Green Line and the North-South Green Line sales extension. Despite not receiving a salary for walking the train from Bangkok for 3 years, which is more than 8 billion baht, Mr. Keeree has given BTS policy to keep walking as much as possible so as not to affect the passengers
The delays in the extension of the concession contract will cause the number of bus salaries that Bangkok has to pay to BTS to continue to increase. Which confirms that BTS will continue to operate the train with more continuity But if it is clear in the extension of the concession contract, BTS can explain to shareholders more clearly.
Mr. Surapong said that technically, the bus is considered complete. Including the availability of the number of vehicles that BTS bought a new train 3 years ago, BTS received a total of 46 trains to operate on all extensions.
While the purchase of new trains will be evaluated in a longer period Especially the issue of the COVID-19 outbreak. Affecting the number of passengers in the past The number of passengers returning to normal levels depends on the control conditions of COVID-19. Due to the decrease in passenger numbers partly due to missing foreign tourists Include Thais in tourism-related businesses with reduced economic activity
Mr. Krieng Phon Phatthanarat Managing Director Bangkok Thanakom Company Limited Bangkok Enterprises revealed that the Wat Phra Si Mahathat – Khu Khot Station Green Line train extension is ready as scheduled on December 16, 2020, in which Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is the president of the opening. That in the past Major General Asawin Kwanmuang, Governor of Bangkok Has monitored the readiness to expand the route continuously. It will be a service that will waive the fee for the extension of the Mo Chit station – Wat Phra Si Mahathat station.
Regarding the problem that BTS has sent a letter to Bangkok to follow up on the extension of the train route, there is no meeting scheduled with BTS.
News reports from the Bangkok City Council indicate that Bangkok has received government funding. After the Green Line extension, which is free since 2018, but still has no answer on whether to support this part or not. Of the amount of debt that has 8 billion baht
Revealing that Bangkok does not set a budget to pay for the bus
In this sense, the problem of the delay in the payment of the expansion operation arises from the delay in the renewal of the concession contract of the MRT Green Line Project. In which Bangkok has not set a budget for the payment of salaries Because the salary will be subtracted to cover the debt after renewing the BTS contract No one had previously estimated that the extension of a contract would be delayed until now.
For the contract renewal process after the start of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, exercised the power of the head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to issue orders to establish a negotiating committee of contracts between Bangkok and BTS at the beginning of 2019 and there was Presentation of the contract project to the Committee of Ministers of Economy (Economic Cabinet) approved in November 2019, including the draft contract to renew the concession for the Cabinet to consider 3-4 times, but it was reversed.
“Anupong” clarifies all questions
News reports from the Government House indicate that at the Cabinet meeting on November 17, 2020, the Interior Ministry proposes to consider the extension of the concession contract. The Ministry of Transportation has pointed out 4 issues, including issues related to the Law on the Joint State-Private Investment Law, while General Anupong Paochinda, Minister of the Interior Clarified in the Cabinet that this matter was discussed in the Legal Department The Office of the State Council has been at least 4-5 times.
Including the Home Office, he went on to make information and found that the fare price at the 65 baht level is considered to cover 66 kilometers of service, an average fare of 0.97 baht per kilometer, while the Line train Azul sets the maximum rate at 42 baht, but covers a total distance of only 48 kilometers, an average of 0.88 baht / kilometer. Kilometers in which the price difference is seen Due to the extension of the blue line, the government supports the cost of civil construction, while the green line, the government does not, needs to use its own income to pay all costs .
Also, the blue line that made an amendment to the agreement There is no revenue sharing for the government. While the green line is divided into more than 200 billion baht, including Bangkok, if the green line does not have to bear the load, like the blue line, the blue line can set lower rates than the blue line.
The Prime Minister asked the Home Office to consider additional observations to take into account in the new round. With the Ministry of the Interior to clarify and answer all questions. Because it is a matter that the cabinet must be responsible for all.