He said the company would pitch for all the main mass rapid transit lines. However, the final decision depends on the terms and conditions of the projects and their commercial viability.

BEM and BTS Group Holdings were among the companies who recently picked up the tender documents of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand’s two monorail projects – the Pink Line Khae Rai-Min Buri route, and the Yellow Line Lat Phrao-Samrong route. Bids must be submitted on November 7.

Phongsarit, who also serves as executive vice president for operations for listed construction firm Ch Karnchang, said that since BEM already operated the heavy rail system, it would have no difficulty in operating these two monorail lines, which BEM views as feeder lines.

The company is also keen to bid the Orange Line’s east section for the Thailand Cultural Centre-Min Buri (Suwinthawong) route. Bid documents will be available on July 15.

BEM has been granted concessions for two mass rapid transit rail system projects by the MRTA, including the MRT Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line (the initial Blue Line) Hua Lamphong-Bang Sue, and the Purple Line Bangyai-Taopoon. The Purple Line will be officially opened on August 6.

BEM was established on December 30, 2015 through the amalgamation of Bangkok Expressway (BECL) and Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL). It was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in January this year. Ch Karnchang is BEM’s major shareholder.

The Public-Private Partnership committee is expected to hold a meeting this month to consider whether to approve the resolution of the panel founded under Article 35 of the Public-Private Joint Investment Act that the MRTA should hold direct talks with BEM to allow the latter to operate the two extended routes of the Blue Line on the Bang Sue-Tha Phra and Hua Lamphong-Bang Khae sections.