Imagine cruising above the bustling streets of Bangkok, gazing down at the shimmering cityscape while you whiz from one landmark to another. This is the daily reality for hundreds of thousands who travel on the BTS Skytrain, which is about to get even better.
In a recent wave of unanimous votes (save for one abstention), the Bangkok Council gave the green light—with a score of 44:0—on a financial deal that’s set to revolutionize your ride on the second-stage Green Line extensions. The tantalizing extensions await, stretching from Bearing all the way to Kheha, and bridging Mo Chit with Saphan Mai, before reaching the terminus at Khu Khot stations. It’s almost as electrifying as the systems they’ll be installing! But behind the scenes, five district representatives decided to play hooky from the meeting.
The man at the helm, BMA Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, offered insight before the crucial vote. Chadchart laid out the roadmap, detailing how the BMA shook hands with BTCS, tasking them with outfitting these extensions with state-of-the-art electrical and mechanical wizardry. This came after the city took the reins from the government’s hands. A smooth transfer, you might say, but not without its financial hurdles.
The plot thickens: the Cabinet zipped its wallet tight, leaving the BMA on its own to scrounge for coins beneath the sofa cushions. They issued a staunch “It’s on you!” leaving the city to handle the monetary matters. Chadchart waxed financial, emphasizing the need for haste to dodge those pesky interest charges, which sound as appealing as a traffic jam on Sukhumvit Road during rush hour. Imagine this: settle the score by April 4, and you dodge an extra expense, capping off at 23.488 billion baht. Now that’s a number worth noting!
Chadchart wasn’t just about doom and gloom though. Pay up, and the BMA could hold the Green Line extensions with pride, ensuring its patron’s interests are guarded more fiercely than a street vendor’s secret Pad Thai recipe. Those 280,000 daily voyages? They just got a whole lot saucier.
They say that after the rain comes a rainbow, and in this saga, post-meeting Chadchart beamed a smile that could clear any monsoon cloud. His next mission: to charm the Cabinet via the interior minister for that sweet, sweet approval.
As we bid adieu to the budgetary bickering, Chadchart mused on the resolution with reporters, closing the chapter on what has been quite the financial soap opera.
The cash for this operation isn’t coming from thin air though. The BMA has a hefty piggy bank with a whopping 51.2 billion baht snuggled inside. BTSC’s head honcho, Surapong Laoha-Unya, practically did a victory dance at the news. He dreams of using this windfall to square debts and inflate the company’s financial cushion.
But wait! There’s more! The BMA’s wallet isn’t snapping shut just yet. Even after they’ve crossed off the 23.488 billion debt, a cheeky 27.54 billion baht still hovers, earmarked for operations and maintenance. This sequel to their spending spree is split into two enticing parts: 5.4 billion baht dedicated to the extension that connects Onnut to Bearing and Saphan Taksin to Wongwian Yai, while a cool 22 billion baht lays aside for the leg from Mo Chit to Khu Khot and Bearing to Samut Prakan.
So, as the City of Angels gears up for a smoother, more efficient skyway, remember that each meeting, each vote, and each baht is a step towards an even more connected Bangkok. The Skytrain isn’t just a mode of transport; it’s the city’s pulsing artery, set to beat stronger than ever before. For now, the suspense is over, but the journey? It’s only just begun.
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