The plan outlines the addition of 10 new mass transit lines in the Greater Bangkok area, with several located in the second ring with a radius of 40km around Bangkok, linking to Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon.
Three new rail projects worth 100 billion baht (US$3.14 billion) have been proposed to link Bangkok to its surrounding areas, easing congestion and accommodating growth in the area.
The new proposed routes include a 25-km electric train system connecting Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan, according to Sarawut Songsiwilai, director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning.
The 20-billion-baht project is designed to run from the Bang Na area to the airport. It will be connected to the existing Green Line mass-transit system, which now extends to Samut Prakan, Bangkok Post reported.
Currently, the airport is served by the Airport Rail Link, which transports about 72,000 passengers daily along a 28km route from Phaya Thai in the inner city to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The new plans have been put forward by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a Japanese government agency, as part of a second blueprint named M-MAP2.
The plan outlines the addition of 10 new mass transit lines in the Greater Bangkok area, with several located in the second ring with a radius of 40km around Bangkok, linking to Chachoengsao, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon.
These plans add to an existing first master plan, which lays out plans to build 10 electric train lines and extensions for existing lines by 2029.
Among the other new proposed routes is a 40km electric train system in the outer ring that passes through Bang Wa, Taling Chan, Nonthaburi and Bang Kapi, revealed a source at the Transport Ministry. Project costs are estimated at 50 billion baht.
The project is designed as a feeder system for the main routes and will support growth and expansion of provinces surrounding Bangkok, reducing the number of vehicles entering the capital.
Another Grey Line monorail worth 30 billion baht from Ram Intra Road to Rama IX Bridge and its extension routes from Ram Intra to Lam Lukka and from Rama IX Bridge to Ekkamai is also being considered.