PM most concerned about public in resolving Green Line payment issue

[webfact]

 

By Praphorn Praphornkul

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Prime Minister has decided to step up remedying issues to do with the Green Line rail extension between Bearing and Samut Prakan and from Mo Chit to Saphan Mai to Khu Khot, which have been pending operation and maintenance payments by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for 3 years and 9 months.

 

Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said his approach to the issue has placed consideration of the public at the forefront. He indicated he will discuss the matter with the Cabinet before proceeding with negotiations, saying he wishes to avoid any impact on the public. He urged all relevant sides to work together to resolve the complex issue.

 

The PM also asked that public and private agencies work together to avoid leaving the matter to a future administration and saddling citizens with high costs.

 

“I understand the trouble and I’ve placed public hardship at the center of my consideration of how to proceed. What we have to do now is bring this matter up in the Cabinet for discussion so that we can continue with negotiations we previously began. I have to think of the effect all this will have on the citizens and what they need, we need a remedy. Everyone involved must work together to find a resolution because sometimes these matters become complicated and need a concerted effort. Sometimes solutions result in more issues so it is important the government chooses the right course of action, so that it is not saddling its successor with more problems. I ask that the public and private sectors and businesses to come together to move this along as soon as possible at a cost that is not too high for the public”

 

September 1st of this year will mark the end of a 60-day period provided by the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) to the BMA to make its operation and maintenance payments for Extension 1 of the Saphan Taksin-Bangwa Green Line’s On Nut-Bearing section and Extension 2, Mo Chit-Saphan Mai-Khu Khot and Bearing-Samut Prakan. The payment has been pending for 3 years and 9 months since April of 2017 and is currently worth 9.602 billion baht. The BMA also owes 20.768 billion baht for the procurement of electrical and machinery systems. Together, the two payments equal about 30 billion baht. BTSC is ready to take legal action but will not suspend service of its trains at this time.

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-09

 

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[RichardColeman]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

The payment has been pending for 3 years and 9 months since April of 2017 and is currently worth 9.602 billion baht. The BMA also owes 20.768 billion baht for the procurement of electrical and machinery systems. Together, the two payments equal about 30 billion baht.

The company owes a billion dollars? How can a company possibly be allowed to rack up a debt like that - without help and a blind eye ? 

[Damrongsak]

20 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

The company owes a billion dollars? How can a company possibly be allowed to rack up a debt like that - without help and a blind eye ? 

It took a few years for the payoff checks to clear or pensions came due?  Or time to dig holes and bury money while the lights were out?  Seems like there are a lot of extremely rich, blind people in Thailand. 

[Crossy]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

The company owes a billion dollars? How can a company possibly be allowed to rack up a debt like that - without help and a blind eye ? 

 

No, not a company the BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration).

 

BTSC built (trains and railway systems) and have been operating the three extensions basically for free for nearly 4 years, they would like to get paid for their contracted work.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

which have been pending operation and maintenance payments by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for 3 years and 9 months.

Time to pay-up....

[tomazbodner]

9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The company owes a billion dollars? How can a company possibly be allowed to rack up a debt like that - without help and a blind eye ? 

No, government owes 30 billion TO the company.

 

Sorry Crossy, just saw your post after submitting.

Edited April 9, 2021 by tomazbodner

[tomazbodner]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Time to pay-up....

 

“I understand the trouble and I’ve placed public hardship at the center of my consideration of how to proceed. ... Everyone involved must work together to find a resolution because sometimes these matters become complicated and need a concerted effort."

 

Still think that?

[hotchilli]

43 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

 

“I understand the trouble and I’ve placed public hardship at the center of my consideration of how to proceed. ... Everyone involved must work together to find a resolution because sometimes these matters become complicated and need a concerted effort."

 

Still think that?

It is the answer, I didn't say it was going to happen.