The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to pay the first instalment of the 22 billion baht debt it owes to Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the operator of the BTS Skytrain Green Line extension next month. Manageable comes after the anticipated approval from the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC). The debt pertains to the Green Line extension and was discussed with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin earlier this week revealed Bangkok Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt.
The debt issue was first addressed in 2019 by the now-disbanded National Council for Peace and Order, which formed a panel to plot an answer. Despite its efforts, the panel failed to secure cabinet approval seven occasions, prompting further info gathering by the BMA.
The 57 yr old Chadchart emphasised the need of transparency and fairness for all events involved, including the public and private sectors. This is particularly important as more electric train investments are anticipated in the future.
The BMC is expected to take a number of weeks to deliberate the matter before forwarding it to the Interior Ministry subsequent month.
The BMA has advised that the BMC enable it to utilise almost half of its 50 billion baht financial savings to repay the 22.8 billion baht debt to BTSC. This debt stems from the set up of the electrical and mechanical methods for the Green Line extensions.
Last year, the BTS Skytrain, beneath the BTS Group Holdings Public Company, launched a video to demand their cash back! BTS says the federal government owes them 40 billion baht and they want the debt paid, reported Bangkok Post.
The BTS revealed it intends to disgrace the government by airing the debt-collection message on each screen inside BTS trains and station platforms along Sukhumvit, or the Green Line, for the next 15 days. To learn extra click HERE.
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