On March 26, thirteen entrepreneurs took part in the third round of auction for the 489 Natural Gas for Vehicle (NGV) bus procurement deal. Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) Acting Director Pranee SukrasornMs, said just two of the 13 competitors were from the earlier round.
She is sure that this would be the final round and the winner will be declared on 20th April. The winner of the deal will be responsible for the purchase of the buses and start delivering them from May to July 2015. Each vehicle's medium price has been fixed at 3.65 million baht, netting a complete deal for 1.78 billion baht.
Ms. Pranee said her agency will decommission 100 buses after it receives all of the new NGV vehicles. As for another plan which involves periodic maintenance of the current 2,600 buses, the Finance Ministry would guarantee for the loan the BMTA is likely to make for the maintenance. Ms. Pranee added the purchase for the rest of the BMTA’s fleet would have to come after it can decide the new vehicle’s longevity.
She noted that her agency is planning to purchase electric buses, due to the increasing prices of the natural gas for vehicle. But, the choice may not be viable because of the high price tag of up to 10 million baht apiece.
She is sure that this would be the final round and the winner will be declared on 20th April. The winner of the deal will be responsible for the purchase of the buses and start delivering them from May to July 2015. Each vehicle's medium price has been fixed at 3.65 million baht, netting a complete deal for 1.78 billion baht.
Ms. Pranee said her agency will decommission 100 buses after it receives all of the new NGV vehicles. As for another plan which involves periodic maintenance of the current 2,600 buses, the Finance Ministry would guarantee for the loan the BMTA is likely to make for the maintenance. Ms. Pranee added the purchase for the rest of the BMTA’s fleet would have to come after it can decide the new vehicle’s longevity.
She noted that her agency is planning to purchase electric buses, due to the increasing prices of the natural gas for vehicle. But, the choice may not be viable because of the high price tag of up to 10 million baht apiece.