On 4th August 2025, construction began on the tunnel for the southern extension of the MRT Purple Line in Bangkok. The 3.1 km section between Phan Fa and Memorial Bridge includes two underground stations and crosses under the Chao Phraya River. The contractor is the joint venture ITD-NWR MRT, consisting of Italian-Thai Development and Nawarat Patanakarn, which was awarded a construction contract worth approximately €403.1 million (THB 15.2 billion) in March 2022. The extension of the Purple Line covers a total of 23.6 km from Tao Poon – Rat Burana and includes ten underground and seven elevated stations, for which six construction contracts have been awarded. Construction work is 59.5% complete and 51.5% on schedule. The start of operation of the Tao Poon – National Library section is planned for 2028, with the line scheduled to be fully operational in 2030.
