Deadline to sign contract on Thailand’s high-speed airport-link train project postponed from 15 to 25 October 2019
By THE NATION
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has postponed the deadline for the Charoen Pokphand-led group to sign a contract with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) on a high-speed train project to October 25 from the previous October 15, pending the complete appointment of a new SRT board.
The minister said the contract signing needs the approval of the SRT board. The board had resigned en mass on October 1.
Saksayam said that without board approval, the SRT would not be able to submit the signed documents for Cabinet approval.
The State Enterprise Policy Office is nominating members for the new SRT board, the names of which will be forwarded to the ministry for consideration this week. The ministry will then hand the list to the Cabinet on October 15 for approval.
Saksayam added that no one expected the SRT board to resign.
The committee tasked with overseeing bidding for the high-speed train project earlier set October 15 as the deadline for signing the contract.
The CP-led consortium proposed the lowest price to develop the project that will link three major international airports – Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport and U-Tapao Airport.
Saksayam said the SRT has already handed over 72 per cent of the total area for the project.
Partners in the CP-led consortium comprise Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc, China Railway Construction Corporation, Ch Karnchang Plc, and Italian-Thai Development Plc.
Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/edandtech/30377197
