Cabinet to be presented with extension plan soon

The plan to further extent the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) Red Line from Siriraj Hospital to Salaya will be of hope to be proposed to cabinet next month.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said Wednesday the 15.17-billion-baht project had received approval from all agencies concerned, including the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau and the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

These have given their input to the ministry on the matter, clearing the project for submission to cabinet.

The next stage, according to Mr Suriya, is the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), which has been appointed to prepare for all preparations and compile information needed for the project to be put on the agenda.

The work of the DRT will likely be finished this week and then the proposal will be sent to the Secretariat of the Cabinet (SoC).

The SoC must consult other agencies, including the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, before presenting the proposal to the cabinet.

Mr Suriya more fully expects the project to be completed this month, so it can be taken to the cabinet by the start of April.

The Red Line extension, which covers a distance of 20.5 kilometres, will stretch west from the newly opened Taling Chan Station in Bangkok to the new Salaya Station in Nakhon Pathom, while a new branch will also be added to Siriraj Station that enables commuters to the Siriraj Hospital.

The extension will feature eight stations along the route. If approval is granted, construction will start in January and be completed by January 2029, Mr Suriya said.