Progress of Purple Line and Red Line Routes
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday inspected progress on construction works of two mass transit rail systems on the outskirts of Bangkok, aimed at improving urban communication and easing traffic congestion, amid jeers by anti-government protesters.
Accompanied by Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and senior officials including Supot Saplom, permanent secretary for Transport, Mr Abhisit first inspected construction of the 49-kilometre purple route which runs from Bang Yai in Nonthaburi province, passing through Bang Sue to Ratchaburana in the city’s Thonburi side.
A group of anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) gathered in front of the maintenance centre of the rail system and mocked Mr Abhisit after his motorcade arrived.
Another group of UDD protesters were also present when Mr Abhisit arrived later to inspect progress on construction work of the 15.2- kilometre red route which runs from Bang Sue to Taling Chan in Thonburi.
An unidentified UDD member was apprehended by police who were guarding the area after he ran towards the prime minister.
Permanent Secretary for Transport Supot later said construction of the purple route has been delayed from the actual plan by one percent due to lack of workforce, but he expected the service of this rail system could launch as scheduled on January 1, 2014.
Construction work of the red route is now about 66 per cent complete, about 14 per cent delayed from its original plan, due to illegal occupation by squatters, while the state-run State Railway of Thailand which is the owner of this project and the Transport Ministry are jointly urging illegal dwellers to vacate the area. (MCOT online news)
