The State Mass Transit Agency (MRTA) of Thailand has approved a new monorail project in Bangkok worth 49.87 billion baht. Highway Department Chief Sarawut Songsivilai, who is also chairman of the MRTA board, said the 22.1-kilometer Brown Line will connect Khae Rai Junction in Nonthaburi to Lam Sali Junction in Bangkok.
Saravut noted that the council also agreed to conduct a preliminary study of the project in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership Law of 2019. This study will help determine the net cost of the project and will be submitted to the Ministry of Transport for consideration at the next Cabinet meeting.
If the project is approved by June, the MRTA will set up a committee under Section 36 of the Public-Private Partnership Act to conduct the tender process.
According to the original plan, the stage of appropriation of land and property for the monorail will begin in January 2025. The assignment process should continue until February 2028.
The tender procedure for the construction and operation of the monorail can be held from January 2024 to July 2025.
Construction could start in August 2025 and the project should be completed by July 2028, with the launch of the monorail in August of that year, provided the land appropriation process is not delayed.
Saravut added that the environmental impact assessment of the project is currently being reviewed by the relevant committee.
The monorail will have 20 stations and its cost of 49.865 billion baht will be distributed as follows: 7.254 billion baht for land appropriation, 18.544 billion baht for construction, 16.351 billion baht for system installation, 1.395 billion baht for a consulting firm and 6.32 billion baht in the form of reserve funds.
Under a public-private partnership, the government will be responsible for the cost of land appropriation, and the construction and installation of the system will be carried out by the private sector.
The winner of the project will operate and maintain the monorail system for 30 years.
Sarawut noted that the project has an internal economic rate of return (EiRR) of 20.82% and a net present value (NPV) of 50.66 billion baht, as well as a utility factor of 2.45.
The study showed that once the monorail was launched, at least 112,439 passengers would be transported daily, and the fare would be between 14 and 42 baht.
Two monorails are already under construction: the Pink Line connecting Pak Kret in Nonthaburi with Minburi in Bangkok, and the Yellow Line from Samrong in Samutprakarna to Sri Yam Junction in Bangkok.
