BTS bid must bring benefitTransparency and public interest must be a priority when the government decides whether or not it will extend Bangkok Mass Transit System’s (BTSC) concession for the skytrain’s Green Line. Last week, the cabinet withheld its approval to extend BTSC’s concession for 30 more years, as proposed by Interior Minister, Anupong Paojinda, following strong opposition from the Transport Ministry. The Green Line, meanwhile, saw from 800,000 to one million passengers a day before the Covid19 pandemic. One may argue that the Transport Ministry, which is under the Bhumjaithai Party, has its own agenda in objecting to the proposal. It must assure that all proceedings were carried out in a transparent manner, with public benefit as the goal, if it decides to approve the proposal.

Source: Bangkok Post November 22, 2020 20:48 UTC