The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) said yesterday the construction of two depots for its buses will be delayed, after discussions over land leasing with the Treasury Department and the State Railway of Thailand stalled.
Surachai Eamvachirasakul, the director of the BMTA, said construction of only nine garages for BMTA buses will be completed within this year, out of the eleven planned depots.
The two other depots in the Kamphaeng Phet area and near the Government Complex in Chaeng Watthana will see their construction postponed as there is no land available at this time, he said.
The plot at Chaeng Watthana is owned by the Treasury Department, which has called off its agreement with the BMTA to lease the land.
According to Mr Surachai, the Treasury Department has told the BMTA's directors that it must reserve the land for the construction of an extension of Chulabhorn Hospital instead.
"The completion of our garages has therefore been delayed, as we must find new plots," Mr Surachai said.
From an initial survey, the BMTA has found a suitable parcel of land on Kanchanaphisek Road in Bangyai, Nonthaburi, he added. The land is located close to the Central Westgate department store.
The BMTA is currently negotiating rental fees with the land owners, including local authorities, a temple and a mosque, but no agreement has yet been reached.
Meanwhile, the land on Kamphaeng Phet Road is owned by the State Railway of Thailand, which is expected to hand over the 7-rai plot once paperwork and the necessary procedures are finalised.
The project to build 11 garages for BMTA buses is expected to cost 458 million baht in total. So far, six have already been completed. Two of them are situated in Phra Pradaeng and one each in Nakhon In, Bang Bua Thong, Pu Chao Saming Prai and Bang Phli.