Friday, August 21, 2009

Blue Line bidding open to foreign firms

       The Mass Rapid Transit Authority's board has agreed to open bidding for the Bt76-billion Blue Line urban electric-train project to foreign as well as local contractors.
       "We opted for international bidding rather than an electronic auction as the project size is huge, and foregin contractors should be allowed to participate," Tawalyarat Onsira, an MRTA director, said after the board's meeting yesterday.
       The meeting discussed both sections of the Blue Line, from Bang Sue to Tha Phra and from Hualamphong to Bang Khae.
       The MRTA will now update the project cost, and the terms of reference should be ready for the board's consideration next month.
       If the Comptroller-General's Office approves the international-bidding method, the bid documents should be available in October.
       The Public Debt Management Office yesterday informed the MRTA's board that the Blue Line's constructin would be financed by domestic borrowing. This will shorten the bidding process to between three and six months, said Tawalyarat.
       If the Finance Ministry sought financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the process could take eight to 12 months.
       Tawalyarat said the bidding results should be known by next February. Bidders will be required to pass general qualification criteria, meet the technical construction requirements and quote competitive prices.
       Of the current Blue Line project cost of Bt76 billion, Bt48.8 billion is for civil works and Bt25 billion for rolling stock.
       Board member Chairat Chumwong will chair a committee to take care of land expropriation for the construction of the Blue and Purple lines. About 30 per cent of the land to locate the Purple Line is yet to be expropriated.
       The board yesterday gave its stamp of approval to the qualifications of four companies - AEC, Thai MM, Systra snd PPS - bidding for the Purple Line's construction-project management contract, worth Bt1.3 billion.

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