BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is expected to find a private firm in November to build a high-speed rail linking three major airports between the Thai capital and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
EEC Office Secretary General Kanit Saengsuphan said the private firm has to win a bidding to implement the high-speed rail linking Don Mueang airport in Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province and U-Tapao airport in Rayong province as part of the EEC project, Thai government's official website published on Thursday.
After a meeting attended by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economy Somkid Jatusripitak and other officials on EEC on Thursday, Kanit confirmed that preparations for Terms Of Reference will be finished in the next few weeks and the private sector will be given four month to bid for the high-speed rail, estimaed to cost 224.5 billion baht (about 7.24 billion U.S. dollars).
The winner of the bidding for the rail project is expected to be known in November, he said.
The Thai cabinet approved the 220-km high-speed rail linking three airports in late March, which will be conducted under public-private-partnership (PPP) of 50 years, including 5 years of construction and 45 years of operation.
The government said it will invest no more than 119.425 billion baht (some 3.8 billion U.S. dollars) and will pay yearly after the high-speed railway is fully operational in 2023.