Second BRT route planned
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has announced plans to build a second Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, from Nonthaburi's Pak Kret to Bangkok's Mor Chit.
The project will cost Bt1.4 billion and will service the future Chaeng Wattana civil service complex. Bangkok deputy governor Panit Wikitset yesterday said the BMA was concluding this year's projected budget and expenses for 2008 for governor Apirak Kosayodhin's consideration next week. The budget request will then be submitted to Bangkok Council on July 18. This year the city had a Bt58-billion budget, of which Bt44 billion came from its own income and Bt15 billion from the government, Panit said. The projected expenses for 2008 include ongoing large projects such as the construction of the Skytrain extension from On Nut to Sukhumvit Soi 107 and the first BRT route from Chong Nonsi to Ratchapreuk, he said. The second, 26-kilometre BRT route from Pak Kret to Mor Chit would support 100,000 commuters travelling to the future Chaeng Wattana civil service complex. He said a consultancy company would conclude a report on this project before putting it to Apirak. The project must be submitted to Bangkok Council for budget approval and the Cabinet would then be asked to approve the route. The project should be put to Bangkok Council early next year because city officials wanted the first BRT route up and running to gauge public reactions first, he said.
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