This is an effort by the BMTA to cut the Bt13-billion budget to buy 3,183 natural-gas-fuelled buses, which was approved by the Cabinet previously.
Under the revised plan, the BMTA is to buy 200 electric buses for Bt2.3 billion and improve nearly 700 existing buses.Ormsin said the National Economic and Social Development Board would consider the BMTA’s new bus-acquisition proposal on Wednesday before asking the Cabinet to review it.
“We expect the proposal to be submitted to the Cabinet” later this month, he said. BMTA director-general Surachai Eamvachirasakul said yesterday that the authority expected to open the bidding for the 200 electric buses with a budget of Bt2.3 billion by the end of this year. He said that after signing a contract with the winning bidder, delivery would be set for within 120 days thereafter so that the new buses would be in service by March or April next year.
“After conducting a market-sounding survey, [we found] there are about 10 private firms interested in taking part in the bid,” he said.
The BMTA yesterday also celebrated its 40th anniversary by signing a contract with Bestlin Group to purchase 489 natural-gas-powered buses as well as unveiling its new bus model.
Under the authority’s rehabilitation plan, it will also speed up improvements of 673 existing buses by installing Global Positioning System technology, free |Wi-Fi, and an e-ticketing system.