Srt Stunned By Suvarnabhumi Tunnel Cost

[Mid]

SRT stunned by Suvarnabhumi tunnel cost

Fri, August 31, 2007 : Last updated 14:42 hours

The State of Railway's board of directors has recently instructed the management to reassess the construction cost of the underground rail tunnel at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is the end of the Airport Rail Link project.

Siva Sangmanee, chairman of the SRT, said the board is concerned with the huge cost. The SRT formerly set the budget at Bt500 million for the tunnel with 200-300 metres in length. However, the tunnel is much bigger than planned, with the total length of 800 metres, and it costs totally Bt4 billion.

Airports of Thailand carried out the construction on behalf of SRT prior to the airport's opening. It has also paid for the construction costs in advance.

"We have expressed our concerns on the cost and have coordinated with AOT. The construction contract would be examined as SRT has never known of the details. Now, we are considering on the payment issue, but have not yet decided when to pay the amount to AOT," Siva said.

- The Nation

[ovenman]

Moral of the story: padding of the check bin doesn't only occur in bars and restaurants!

[PeaceBlondie]

This quote jumps out: "SRT has never known of the details."

[chinthee]

The funny thing is that in places like Hong Kong, the rail link was built B4 the airport. Go figure.

[cclub75]

This quote jumps out: "SRT has never known of the details."

And... " tunnel with 200-300 metres in length. However, the tunnel is much bigger than planned, with the total length of 800 metres".

We are laughing... but actually when you look at all thoses little pieces of news... the big picture is horrific.

They'll never manage to get out the mud.

It's not a matter of sides anymore, or extend, or methods or who is responsible : everything is rotten to the core.

[ovenman]

This quote jumps out: "SRT has never known of the details."

Indeed. The SRT is trying to sell the story that for this mega-project, a rail system that is probably destined to become the SRT's biggest cash cow for years to come, they simply told the AOT to "build it however you want and just send us the bill".

[technocracy]

"SRT has never known of the details."

:D

Oops the cost is only 8 times the budget. There a fair bit of tea money that!!!

How do these people get these jobs??!

[chinthee]

I guess this means that AOT will have to make up any shortfalls by employing roving "Train touts" outside customs.

[samran]

This quote jumps out: "SRT has never known of the details."

Indeed. The SRT is trying to sell the story that for this mega-project, a rail system that is probably destined to become the SRT's biggest cash cow for years to come, they simply told the AOT to "build it however you want and just send us the bill".

SRT's biggest cash cow is their properties. They own a bucket load of property and as a result, the traditional focus of senior management was to lease out malls and stores rather than build rail lines, which takes up most of their time.

The airport was always going to be built with the facilities to accomadate a rail link. Given SRT's lack of progress in building any new or decent rail routes over the past decade or two and slow progress with the underground, no one was holding their breath for the rail link to actually be completed. AOT's position was simply to provide the access and the tunnel, and SRT would eventually come to the party.

[Ricardo]

They made the mistake of filling the tunnel with expensive specially-imported Scandinavian air !

Perhaps the SRT can pay it, a little bit at a time, say 5 Baht per-passenger carried on the line through the tunnel ? AAT can then wait forever, for their full payment, and honour will be satisfied both ways.

Or perhaps SRT can build a new replacement fully-costed fly-over, across the runway, instead ?

Or how about a traditional Thai level-crossing ?!

[zink]

Nice timing here, airport link was supposed to open in 2007 under previous deadline and just now they started thinking how to build a tunnel

Even 2009 opening date starts to look unrealistic.

[UnknownPoster]

It's the good ol' Boys network, pillaging the Country. Anybody approving a contract gets a piece of the action.

Nobody dare spill the beans on some rich bigshots.

There will be investigations but nobody is willing to point a finger.

The guy that dumped the first load of fill sand in that swamp 15 years ago overcharged.

The head of the national parks sells land.

The people in charge of the environment sell the forests and rare animals.

The intellectual property rights guy raids Pantip and finds only 1 bogus DVD.

The AOT colludes with ground transport mafia.

The counter corruption commission is corrupt.

The investigators are corrupt, the cops, the courts, the military.

[ovenman]

SRT's biggest cash cow is their properties. They own a bucket load of property and as a result, the traditional focus of senior management was to lease out malls and stores rather than build rail lines, which takes up most of their time.

Doh! That's right, I forgot that the SRT's big business is actually that of being landlords.

[Payboy]

look on the bright side it may qualify as the world's longest (and most expensive) airport tunnel...

[midas]

The funny thing is that in places like Hong Kong, the rail link was built B4 the airport. Go figure.

No sir ! This is special price for you

[Big A]

The whole thing is absolutely pathetic. It's not funny anymore.

Edited August 31, 2007 by Big A

[chinthee]

It's really too bad Bendix can't be here to defend the airport. Oh well, he'll be along shortly.

[samran]

Nice timing here, airport link was supposed to open in 2007 under previous deadline and just now they started thinking how to build a tunnel

Even 2009 opening date starts to look unrealistic.

if you read the article, the thing is already built. AOT though is now asking SRT to compensate it for the cost of building it.

My guess will be that the thing will go ahead anyway while the two state enterprises duke it out behind closed doors. Given that it is one government department talking to another, ministry of finances net position won't be changed, only where they allocate the expenses and the revenues.

[the gent]

Tunnels are expensive and cost overruns inevitable but the discrepancy between the original cost compared to the final demand does suggest an optimism on somebody's part although the general lack of transparency will doubtless conceal the point at which incompetence merges into out and out fraud.

Corruption in Thailand probably adds up to 30% to the cost of any capital project largely underwritten by the hapless taxpayer who seldom receives any of the benefit since the proceeds are often squirrelled away abroad by the sainted few that have historically exploited this benighted country, so poor yet still manages to produce so many super rich.

Posters talk of cash cows but in truth there is only one, the Thai people themselves who are ruthlessly milked at almost every turn.

Frankly, looking at the status quo the only solution would be revolution and civil war but one supposes the illusion of benign paternalism is too important to a traditionally compliant people seemingly devoid of that spirit which freed other societies from incessant exploitation.

[chinthee]

Tunnels are expensive and cost overruns inevitable but the discrepancy between the original cost compared to the final demand does suggest an optimism on somebody's part although the general lack of transparency will doubtless conceal the point at which incompetence merges into out and out fraud.

Corruption in Thailand probably adds up to 30% to the cost of any capital project largely underwritten by the hapless taxpayer who seldom receives any of the benefit since the proceeds are often squirrelled away abroad by the sainted few that have historically exploited this benighted country, so poor yet still manages to produce so many super rich.

Posters talk of cash cows but in truth there is only one, the Thai people themselves who are ruthlessly milked at almost every turn.

Frankly, looking at the status quo the only solution would be revolution and civil war but one supposes the illusion of benign paternalism is too important to a traditionally compliant people seemingly devoid of that spirit which freed other societies from incessant exploitation.

Very insightful. Yes, the "compliant" and good nature of Thais is what leads to so much of what we love and hate about this place.

[nothingleftbutfaith]

Tunnels are expensive and cost overruns inevitable but the discrepancy between the original cost compared to the final demand does suggest an optimism on somebody's part although the general lack of transparency will doubtless conceal the point at which incompetence merges into out and out fraud.

Corruption in Thailand probably adds up to 30% to the cost of any capital project largely underwritten by the hapless taxpayer who seldom receives any of the benefit since the proceeds are often squirrelled away abroad by the sainted few that have historically exploited this benighted country, so poor yet still manages to produce so many super rich.

Posters talk of cash cows but in truth there is only one, the Thai people themselves who are ruthlessly milked at almost every turn.

Frankly, looking at the status quo the only solution would be revolution and civil war but one supposes the illusion of benign paternalism is too important to a traditionally compliant people seemingly devoid of that spirit which freed other societies from incessant exploitation.

Trust me , never take the Airport Rail Link if you want to survive....

Very insightful. Yes, the "compliant" and good nature of Thais is what leads to so much of what we love and hate about this place.

[brahmburgers]

are these the same ilk who will build the nuclear reactor?

[Rinrada]

Throwing good money down a Hole.......

[WAERTH]

are these the same ilk who will build the nuclear reactor?

I am afraid so Brahmburgers. If that happens (the nuclear reactor) it is time to resettle. Untill then for all it's faults and boons let's enjoy being here! Wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Waerth

[Wildebeest]

TIT LOS YGTLI (You got to love it)

[marshbags]

"SRT has never known of the details."

:D

Oops the cost is only 8 times the budget. There a fair bit of tea money that!!!

How do these people get these jobs??!

With " TEA MONEY "

[DefaultName]

How do these people get these jobs??!

Careful choice of parents.

[womble]

are these the same ilk who will build the nuclear reactor?

A very scary thought indeed.