BANGKOK, 11 June 2015, The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) has decided to proceed with the original orange line subway construction plan, given preliminary work has already been carried out.
According to M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, the public has been informed of the original plan of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA)’s orange line railway project for over a decade, and that an environmental impact assessment has already been conducted.
The orange line subway linking Talingchan and Minburi will be constructed through the Prachasongkroh area as planned, as it would not lead to traffic chaos during the construction, M.R. Pridiyathorn confirmed.
The construction has already begun in non-residential areas between Minburi and Thailand Cultural Center, said the Deputy PM, adding that officials are currently looking for appropriate places for 184 homeowners whose houses will be expropriated due to the construction.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that it would be better to quickly wrap up the project, since some people would be affected from the project anyway, regardless of where the construction took place.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Junthong said the SRT-Electric Train Company has been negotiating with those affected by the construction. The orange line project is currently 2 years behind schedule.
