Cabinet Approves BMTA Use of MRTA Project Areas for Bus Parking

The Cabinet approved BMTA's use of MRTA spaces for bus parking at three locations: the maintenance center at Khlong Bang Phai Station, the park-and-ride area at Kheha Station on the Green Line project, and the maintenance center at Huai Khwang.

On 26 May 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to use property of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) for bus parking and utilities at three locations. Rental fees will be negotiated as proposed by the Ministry of Transport. MRTA reserves the right to reclaim the space if needed for its operational purposes, as follows.

• The area at the maintenance center of Khlong Bang Phai Station on the Chalong Ratthatham Metro Line (Khlong Bang Phai Station area), valued at 175.016 million baht.
• The park-and-ride area at Kheha Station on the Green Line from Bearing to Samut Prakan (Kheha Station area), valued at 91.988 million baht.
• The maintenance center area at Huai Khwang, valued at 224.993 million baht, to be used by BMTA as a depot for its clean energy air-conditioned electric buses (EVs). On 17 June 2025, the Cabinet approved BMTA to lease 1,520 EV buses to replace its aging fleet of 20 to 30 years old. The project includes installing electric charging systems. The MRTA property lease for these EV bus parking areas is for a total period of 8 years from the handover date.

Ms. Ploytale explained that MRTA concluded that this use of the property does not fully undermine the original expropriation purpose, as MRTA can continue operating its rail services normally. This aligns with Section 18 of the 2019 Expropriation and Property Acquisition Act. Additionally, permitting BMTA to use these spaces will enhance MRTA’s commercial development potential and utilize otherwise idle areas to generate income. The purpose of using these spaces for EV bus parking supports public service and connects with rail users, encouraging more public transit use. This will increase MRTA’s ridership and revenue.

However, BMTA plans to sign the lease and take possession of the spaces in May 2026. BMTA reported that it will require about one year for improvements from the handover date, including upgrading parking lots, constructing bus shelters, and installing charging systems. These works are expected to complete around the first batch of bus deliveries scheduled for April 2027.