The MRTA has lowered the construction cost by about 2.57 billion baht from an earlier estimate of 85.48 billion baht after it agreed to use more domestically produced materials and equipment in the construction.
About 94% of materials and equipment will be locally sourced while the rest will be imported such as elevators, Mr Arkhom said. He added that on Dec 8 last year, the cabinet approved a budget of 9.62 billion baht for land expropriation. This brings the total cost of the project to 92.53 billion baht, he said.
The 21.2-kilometre Orange Line will feature a 12.2-km subway with 10 stations and a 9-km elevated railway with seven stations.
The Orange Line is one of several transport infrastructure projects currently under way in the capital being pushed by the government to ease heavy traffic as well as to stimulate economic growth.