Thailand’s Ministry of Transport has expressed readiness to assume control of the Green Line electric rail system from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), as part of a potential exchange that would see the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) shift under BMA jurisdiction. The proposal is being considered as part of broader efforts to unify management of Bangkok’s rail infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said in a media interview on 14 May 2025.
The suggested transfer would align with international models, where a single authority oversees the entirety of urban rail networks to ensure consistent standards and integrated operations. While the Ministry of Transport supports the idea in principle, Minister Suriya noted that no formal discussions have yet taken place between BMA and the Ministry on this specific proposal. He added that he plans to raise the matter with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt during an upcoming meeting.
Meanwhile, the proposed transfer of three other urban rail lines—the Silver Line (Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi), the first phase of the Grey Line (Watcharaphon to Thonglor), and the Blue Line extension (Din Daeng to Sathorn)—has already received approval from the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic (CMLT). These projects are currently in the process of administrative handover between BMA and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).
Minister Suriya also addressed the progress of the government’s policy to cap electric rail fares at 20 baht per ride. He confirmed that the draft amendment to the MRTA Act—required to allocate the agency’s accumulated profits to a joint-ticketing fund for fare subsidies—has not yet been submitted to the Cabinet. Initially scheduled for consideration this week, the draft was delayed due to unresolved legal issues and the need for further consultations with the Comptroller General’s Department and the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Transport aims to finalize these discussions and submit the legislation to the Cabinet within the next two weeks, allowing for its inclusion in the House of Representatives’ special session from 28 to 30 May 2025. In addition, conditions must be added to the draft Joint Ticketing Management Act to permit the fund to receive non-donation revenue. The joint ticketing bill has already passed its first reading in Parliament, with further readings expected around July 2025.
Suriya emphasized the need for all relevant agencies to complete the legal and administrative processes promptly. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the 20-baht fare policy across all rail lines by 30 September 2025, as previously announced, to ease commuting costs for the public.
According to preliminary estimates, annual compensation to rail operators for implementing the flat fare policy is expected to be approximately 8 billion baht. Although the Department of Rail Transport has proposed a second phase of the 20-baht policy starting with the 2026 fiscal year, Suriya said the proposal has not yet reached the Ministry and will need to wait for ongoing negotiations between MRTA, the Comptroller General’s Department, and the Ministry of Finance to conclude.
The minister also clarified that he had not been informed of the origin of a separate figure suggesting compensation could reach 9.5 billion baht annually.
Discussions about the proposal have so far not been held with all parties. Any future negotiations or decisions would involve Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and other officials from BMA and related transport agencies.
