BANGKOK, Jan 9 (TNA) – Governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) Pakapong Sirikantaramas pressed the button to start operation of the tunnel drilling machine for the construction of the Orange Line subway.
It marked the official kick-off of the construction of the Orange Line metro from Thailand Cultural Center to Min Buri, the first subway route, connecting eastern part of Bangkok to the capital’s inner area.
The contractor, Italian-Thai Development Plc has used efficient drilling technology for the third 4 km. section of the Orange Line from Huamark to Klong Ban Ma.
The cutter head of the drilling machine has capability to excavate the tunnel with 5.70 meters in diameter for 10-15 meters daily or 350 meters a month.
The Orange Line electric railway project will have 10 stations, connecting the MRT Blue Line at the Thailand Cultural Centre station to the Suwinthawong station of the Orange Line, covering 22.57km. It is expected to be operational in 2023.
The construction started in May 2018 and it completed about 24.59 per cent as of December 2018. (TNA)
