This article is part of a daily series of MegaProjects articles. If you want to know more about PPP projects with a considerable size visit our MegaProjects section. You can receive them by email on a daily basis.

Thailand's Public Private Partnership Committee yesterday signed the approval of two metro projects in Bangkok: the development of the MRT Yellow and Pink lines.

The panel, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, agreed to move forward with the development of the projects using the PPP model.

The concession contracts will have a period of 30 years.

The Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit Authority will carry out detailed studies fo the projects, which will be sent for cabinet approval by the end of March.

The state will be responsible for land expropriation, and the private sector will bear the costs of civil works, the train systems and operation & maintenance. According to sources, the state was willing to partially subsidise the project, but not in excess of the cost of the civil construction. 

Bangkok's MRT Yellow Line will link Lat Phrao and Samrong​. The total project investment is estimated at Bt54.6 billion (around US$1.5 billion).

The Pink Line will link Khae Rai and Min Buri. The total project investment is estimated at Bt56.6 billion (around US$1.6 billion).

The two projects are part of a 5 project plan to stimulate the country's economy and improve its transport system. The three other projects are the following:

• Operation of Blue Line extension project.
• Bangpa-in - Nakhon Rachasrima motorway PPP project. 
• Bangyai - Kanchanaburi motorway PPP project. 

The five projects are part of Thailand's infrastructure development plan from 2015 to 2020. Under this plan, Bt1.57 trillion (US$43.6 billion) is expected to be invested, most of it through partnerships with the private sector. The plan includes a total of 66 projects in 20 categories, 80% of them being transport projects.