Thai Ch Karnchang wins another rail contract

Thai Ch Karnchang wins another rail contract

Ch Karnchang’s 5.03 bln baht bid lower than two rivals

Thailand’s Ch Karnchang Pcl has offered the lowest bid to build a rail system, part of Bangkok’s 52 billion baht ($1.65 billion) “blue line” mass transit project, a government agency said on Tuesday (24 August 2010).

Ch Karnchang’s 5.03 billion baht bid was below the 5.3 billion baht offered by Italian-Thai Development Pcl (ITD.BK) and 5.07 billion baht by Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Pcl (STEC.BK), an official at the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) told reporters.

The contract’s reference price was at 5.13 billion baht. The MRTA expected to sign the agreement with contractors in October before construction starts in November, the official said.

Ch Karnchang, Thailand‘s second-largest contractor, already won a bid for the second contract to build the underground section of the project. Italian-Thai won the first contract for the underground section.

There are five contracts for the 27-km (16.8-mile) underground and elevated lines that will stretch from central Hua Lumphong railway station to Bang Khae, in the west of the city, and from Bang Sue in the north to Tha Phra in the west.

In early June, a joint venture between China‘s Sinohydro Corp and Unique Engineering and Construction Plc UNIQ.BK and Sino-Thai each won contracts to build the elevated sections of the project.

The government is spending 1.6 trillion baht ($51 billion) on infrastructure projects in 2009-2011, including mass transit lines in Bangkok, rural roads and irrigation systems.