The Administrative Court has ordered the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its investment arm, Krung Thep Thanakom Co Ltd, to pay 11 billion baht to Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co Ltd (BTS) for operations and maintenance of the extended Green Line skytrain routes.
The ruling, issued on Monday, relates to unpaid operations and maintenance fees for two Green Line extensions between June 2021 and October 2022. The court determined that the outstanding debt totals 11 billion baht, excluding additional interest.
According to the judgment, the payment must be made within 180 days from the date of the final ruling.
Following the decision, representatives from the BMA and Krung Thep Thanakom said they would consult with executives on whether to appeal. However, they acknowledged that an appeal could result in even higher interest charges.
Deputy Bangkok governor Wisanu Subsompon said the BMA respects the court’s decision.
He explained that the administration is preparing to use part of its 51.66 billion baht in reserve funds by proposing a supplementary budget for the 2026 fiscal year to cover the repayment.
The total amount owed to BTS is expected to reach 32.62 billion baht, including interest calculated through November next year. The budget allocation will require several layers of approval before the Bangkok governor signs off, with the payment currently scheduled for November 18.
The debt covers 12.2 billion baht from the second lawsuit period spanning June 2021 to October 2022, plus an additional 17.1 billion baht accumulated between November 2022 and December 2024. A further 8.3 billion baht is projected for operations in 2025.
Once the debt is cleared, the BMA is expected to have about 19 billion baht remaining in its reserve funds.
