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Published on January 9, 2008

A Transport Ministry source said yesterday that the main reason the five rail projects - with total investment requirements of Bt165 billion, and which were approved by the interim government at the end of 2006 - could not be opened to bidding within its term was because the JBIC was reluctant to make a commitment.

The three routes the government wants the JBIC to finance are the Purple Line's Bang Sue-Bang Yai section, the Blue Line's Bang Sue-Tha Phra and Hua Lumphong-Bang Kae sections, and the Red Line's Bang Sue-Rangsit section, the ministry source said.

As the projects were approved by a coup-installed government, they were hands-off as far as the JBIC was concerned, the source added.

Now, however, the JBIC has suggested that Thailand prepare to seek credit once it has a new government, which would make loan approval easier.

"Though there was no progress in tendering the rail projects during this government's term, all processes are on track for the new government to continue," the source said.

The other two projects, which do not depend on the JBIC, are already in the process of bidding. They are the Red Line's Bang Sue-Taling Chan section worth Bt8.75 billion, and the double-track project in the East running from Chachoengsao, through Sri Racha to Laem Chabang. 

Watcharapong Thongrung

 The Nation