The board of Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) has approved the use of a special method to hire Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company (BEM) to operate the one-kilometre long Taopoon-Bang Sue extension connecting Blue Line with the Purple Line from Taopoon to Bang Yai.
MRT governor Pirayuth Singpattanakul, however, said the board instructed authorities concerned to bargain with BEM to bring down the cost of system installation for the extension to 678 million baht from 693 million baht and to reduce the operating cost to 52 million baht per annum.
He said the board set up a panel tasked with negotiating with BEM regarding the cost of system installation and the operating cost and to draw up the contract for the hiring of BEM to install the system and to operate the extension route.
The panel will report back to the board on January 18 after which the report will be submitted to the Transport Ministry and the cabinet respectively for approval. (Thai PBS)
