The Orange Line electric train route’s section between Din Daeng and the Thailand Cultural Centre is likely to be adjusted, Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) acting governor Ronnachit Yaemsa-ard said.
On Friday, Mr Ronnachit met with a group of 150 residents on Pracha Songkhro Road in Din Daeng district. Residents are likely to be affected by the adjustment project. The group was led by former Democrat MP for Bangkok Thana Chirawinit.
Residents’ strong resistance has prompted the MRTA to look into the possibility of changing the route to prevent negative impacts on residents.
He said a study by a team of advisers on the project has found that changing the route will help avert the impact on more than 150 households and reduce costs relating to land expropriation by more than 500 million baht.
Under the original plan, the underground route would pass Sam Liam Din Daeng, and then turn left to Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, turn right and pass several communities on Pracha Songkhro Road and go straight through to connect with the existing underground train route at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
Under the proposed route change, the underground train will pass Sam Liam Din Daeng, run straight past the Lady of Fatima Church and connect the existing underground train route at the Rama IX station.
This means the adjusted route section will not pass communities on Pracha Songkhro Road.
The Orange Line links Taling Chan and Min Buri, comprising 9km of elevated structures with seven stations, and 30.6km of the underground route with 23 stations. The construction cost for the whole line is estimated at 287 billion baht.
Mr Ronnachit said the MRTA will hold an official public hearing on the proposed route change next Saturday.
If the board approves, the proposed route change will be submitted to the Council of State, the government’s legal advisory body, to review the land expropriation issue, Mr Ronnachit said.
Mr Thana said he previously sent a letter to a parliamentary committee on transport to protest against the original plan.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/443703/orange-line-route-plan-to-be-tweaked
