Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is to launch a tender for USD 1.14 billion tram project in Phuket in the middle of next year after the amended design will be accepted and the project will be approved by the Government of Thailand.
The changes to the project include the addition of tunnels and elevated sections.
The project will be implemented as a PPP. The estimated budget of the project is BHT 34.5 billion (USD 1.14 billion). The project involves the development of a 42km light rail line, running from Phuket International Airport in the north of the island of Phuket to Chalong intersection in the south of Phuket. The line will feature 21 stations along the route, including 19 at-grade stations, 1 elevated station and 1 underground station. The railway system used will be Light Rail Transit.
The concession will run for 25 years after the completion of the line in 2023.
In the meantime, the Department of Highways in Thailand has temporarily halted the development of the project and requested MRTA to conduct the study on the impact of the project.
According to the director-general of the department Sarawut Songsiriwilai, the estimated number of passengers needs to be reconsidered, because it is thought to be inaccurate at the moment. Also, the travel behaviour of the residents needs to be studied and the number of foreign tourists visiting Phuket in the future estimated. “The board still believes that the project is feasible and that the thorough study of impacts in all dimensions will help improve investors’ confidence in the project.”
MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas said that the additional studies should not impact the bidding process.
PPP agreement to develop the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports (Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao) Project has been signed on 24 of October between State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and Eastern High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports Co., Ltd. (Charoen Pokphand Holding and strategic alliances).
Read moreThe Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) on 1 of October has signed a public-private partnership (PPP) contract with the winner of the tender - Gulf MTP LNG Terminal, for the development of the Map Ta Phut seaport project which is worth THB 55.4 billion (USD 1.69 billion).
Read more
The winning bidder for the U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Aviation City Development PPP project in Rayong Province is expected to be announced in May. The estimated investment for the project is THB 200 billion (US$6,25 billion).
Read moreThe Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is speeding the bidding process and set to award the concession agreement with the winning bidder for the Map Ta Phut LNG Port Expansion project in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor development plan by June 4.
Read moreThe Board of Directors of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has revealed that three consortiums submitted the proposal to be the developer of U-Tapao airport and the Eastern Airport City Project worth more than THB 200 billion (US$ 6.3 billion).
Read more