BTSC now owed ฿98Bn from BMA for the Green Line train project

1 Oct 01:51 Key points summarised by AI

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) currently owes Bangkok Mass Transit System Company (BTSC) approximately 98 billion baht for the engineering, maintenance, and operating costs of the Green Line sky train's first and second extensions.
This significant debt, which excludes bank interest, also includes a separate obligation to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) for infrastructure construction of the second extension.
BTSC has taken legal action, suing BMA and its subsidiary Krungthep Thanakom, and secured a favorable ruling from the Central Administrative Court, though the verdict is presently under appeal.
To resolve the financial dispute, the city council has recommended that BMA either negotiate a new contract with BTSC (separating E&M and O&M costs) or transfer the Green Line project back to the government.
The ongoing debt issue poses a major challenge to the government's commitment to reduce Green Line train fares to 20 baht, a key election promise.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Yesterday 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.