Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) has decided to proceed with the original Orange Line subway construction plan, given preliminary work has been carried out.
According to M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, the public has been informed of the original plan of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA)’s Orange Line railway project for more than a decade, and that an environmental impact assessment has already been conducted.
The Orange Line subway linking Talingchan and Minburi will be constructed through the Prachasongkroh area as planned, as it would not lead to traffic chaos during the construction, M.R. Pridiyathorn confirmed.
The construction has already begun in non-residential areas between Minburi and Thailand Cultural Center, said the Deputy PM, adding that officials are currently looking for appropriate places for 184 homeowners whose houses will be expropriated due to the construction.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that it would be better to quickly wrap up the project, since some people would be affected from the project regardless of where the construction took place.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Junthong said the SRT-Electric Train Company has been negotiating with those affected by the construction. The Orange Line project is currently two-years behind schedule.
Regarding the MRTA’s Green Line projects running from Morchit via Saphan Mai to Kucot, and from Bearing to Samutprakan, the Ministry of Transport has been assigned to talk to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration about the matter, said the Transport Minister.
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor of PropertyGuru Group, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email andrew@propertyguru.com.sg
