On July 18, 2024, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, presided over the signing ceremony of the Public-Private Partnership Contract for the MRT Orange Line Project: Bang Khun Non – Min Buri (Suwinthawong) Section, between Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) at Meeting Room 2, 9th Floor, Building 1, MRTA. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs. Manaporn Charoensri, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Chayatan Phromsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Sorapong Paitoonphong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport (Chief of Transportation Group), Mr. Montri Dechasakulsom, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport (Chief of Highway Infrastructure Development Group), Mr. Pichet kunathamaraks Director-General of the Department of Rail Transport, Mr. Sarawut Songsivilai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MRTA, Mr. Vithaya Punmongkol, Deputy Governor (Operations), Acting Governor of MRTA, Mr. Plew Trivisvavet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BEM, representatives of the Selection Committee under Section 36 of the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562.

Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport said that “the government and the Ministry of Transport have continuously pushed forward the development of transportation infrastructure, especially the expansion of the mass rapid transit network to improve the quality of life of the people, providing more convenience in traveling, in line with the policy of “Transport for the well-being of people.” The signing ceremony of the Public-Private Partnership Contract for the MRT Orange Line Project: Bang Khun Non – Min Buri (Suwinthawong) Section is an important starting point for both the public and private sectors to join forces. The Ministry of Transport has assigned MRTA and BEM as the concessionaire, to expedite the installation of M&E systems for the eastern section, Thailand Cultural Centre - Min Buri (Suwinthawong) Section, to be completed faster than planned, for supporting travel connections for the people, and has instructed MRTA to supervise the project construction with care, maintain the highest safety standards, and comply with measures to reduce impacts on community and environment, especially in the Rattanakosin Island area, which is a conservation area”.

Mr. Vithaya Punmongkol, Deputy Governor (Operations), Acting Governor of MRTA, said that “MRTA, as the agency supervising the operation of the MRT services, is fully ready to implement the project in accordance with the policy of the Ministry of Transport to deliver comprehensive and convenient travel to the people as soon as possible. Previously, MRTA carried out the selection of private companies for the MRT Orange Line Project: Bang Khun Non – Min Buri (Suwinthawong) Section, in accordance with the Public-Private Partnership Act, B.E. 2562, until completion and the Cabinet meeting on July 16, 2024 approved the selection results which BEM was selected to be the concessionaire. After this, MRTA will issue a notice to BEM to commence the work. Initially, MRTA plans to expedite the project implementation to open the eastern section before May 2028 and the western section before November 2030”.