MRTA inspects Purple Line South construction site, conducts rigorous safety measure checks, reveals Contract 2 work has progressed over 80%, tunnel boring machine breaks through to Democracy Monument Station, architectural works, station entrances and exits now underway; overall Purple Line project construction stands at over 71%.
On 17 April 2026, Mr. Montri Dechasakulsom, Chairman of the Board of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), Mr. Jiraroj Sukolrat, MRTA Board Member, together with Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Member of the Council of State, Mr. Kachphajon Udomthammapakdee, Governor of the MRTA, Mr. Kittikorn Tanpao, Deputy Governor (Engineering and Construction) of the MRTA, and Mr. Kitti Ekawallop, Assistant Governor acting as Deputy Governor (Finance) of the MRTA, in his capacity as Project Director of the Purple Line MRT, Tao Poon – Rat Burana Section (Kanchanaphisek Ring Road), visited the site to monitor progress of tunnel boring operations for the Purple Line MRT Project, Contract 2, National Library – Phan Fa Section, following the breakthrough of the southbound tunnel boring machine (TBM) into the Democracy Monument Station structure.
Mr. Montri Dechasakulsom, Chairman of the MRTA Board, stated that, based on monitoring of significant construction progress of the Purple Line MRT Project, Tao Poon – Rat Burana Section, Contract 2, with joint venture CKST-PL as contractor, the southbound tunnel boring has been completed through to Democracy Monument Station. Boring of this tunnel section commenced in April 2024, with a total operation period of 24 months. The tunnel boring work is of a twin-tunnel configuration, divided into the southbound tunnel and the northbound tunnel.
For the northbound tunnel, boring commenced in May 2024 and was completed in August 2025, with a total operation period of 15 months. As a result, tunnel boring for both the southbound and northbound running tunnels under the said contract section is now 100% complete.
The Purple Line MRT Project's tunnel boring employed earth pressure balance (EPB) TBM technology, which is effective for underground excavation in conditions of clay and sand with high groundwater pressure in sand layers, along with supporting equipment, for use in underground tunnel boring in Bangkok.
Mr. Montri stressed that MRTA, the project management and construction supervision consultants, as well as the contractor, must maintain operational standards in accordance with international standards, fully consistent with engineering principles at every stage, and strictly comply with safety measures — such as ensuring that construction equipment, tools, and machinery are inspected and meet standards and are in ready-to-use condition, so as to ensure safety for both workers and members of the public passing through. He also directed that work be carried out in accordance with correct operating procedures, that detailed records of construction operations be collected for use in public communications to build confidence among the public, and instructed MRTA to coordinate with relevant agencies to appropriately manage traffic during construction in order to reduce impacts on commuters and residents along the construction corridor.
In this regard, Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Member of the Council of State, provided recommendations to MRTA to consider approaches to area development around MRT stations in parallel with project construction — such as areas inside underground MRT stations and areas surrounding MRT stations — including landscape improvements around stations and pedestrian walkways to make them attractive, convenient, and safe.
Currently, the overall progress of the Purple Line MRT Project as of end of March 2026 stands at 71.39%. For Democracy Monument Station under Contract 2, progress stands at 80.40%, with structural and architectural works inside the station, station entrance and exit construction works, escalator installation, and building systems works currently underway.
