THE NATION
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) yesterday signed seven contracts for the Blue Line MRT extension with bid winners and urged them to finish construction ahead of schedule.
Five of the deals were civil-work contracts. Italian-Thai Development won the first, to design and build the 2.8-kilometre underground route from Hua Lamphong to Sanam Chai, worth Bt11.441 billion.
Ch Karnchang won the second, to design and build the 2.6km underground route from Sanam Chai to Tha Phra worth Bt10.687 billion.
A joint venture between Sino-hydro Corporation and Unique Engineering and Construction won the third contract, involving the construction of the 11km Taopoon-to-Tha Phra elevated rail line worth Bt11.284 billion.
Sino-Thai won the fourth contract, involving construction of a 10.5km elevated railway from Tha Phra to Lak Song, worth Bt13.334 billion.
Ch Karnchang won the fifth contract, to supply the rolling stock, worth Bt10.687 billion.
The Index Group won the project management consultancy deal worth Bt726 million and the MAA Group won the construction supervision consultancy contract worth Bt1.209 billion.
MRTA chairman Supoth Sublom said the constructors were expected to move in within 30 days.
The Transport Ministry will urge them to finish the project before the scheduled completion date of 2016, to enable the new line to be up and running in 2015.
