Anutin Emphasizes Original Contract for 3-Airport Rail
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated on Oct 26 at Bangkok Government House that the 3-airport high-speed rail project must follow its original contract.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- PM Anutin Charnvirakul insists the 3-airport rail project must follow the original contract
- Procurement must adhere strictly to state procurement laws without special privileges
- State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and private partners must resolve ongoing disputes
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul addressed the status of the high-speed rail project connecting three airports, emphasizing that all operations must strictly adhere to the original contractual obligations. He maintained that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the private concessionaire must negotiate to find a resolution, and if an agreement cannot be reached, the matter must proceed through legal channels.
The remarks were made at 4:05 PM on October 26 at Bangkok Government House, following a meeting of the Policy Committee for the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) chaired by Mr. Anutin. The meeting discussed the designation of four additional economic zones, though the high-speed rail project was not formally on the meeting's official agenda.
Photo by Jordan Opel / Unsplash
When reporters questioned the future direction of the high-speed rail project amidst existing lawsuits and disputes between the SRT and the private contractor, the Prime Minister clarified that everything must proceed according to contractual procedures, and both parties are currently obligated to fulfill their contractual duties.
"Everything proceeds according to the contractual steps, and both parties are still required to comply with the contract. If there are any disputes..."
Anutin Charnvirakul
Furthermore, the Prime Minister declined to comment on whether the project format would be adjusted, noting only that procurement activities must strictly follow the State Procurement and Supplies Management Act and remain compliant with the Constitution, denying any special privileges for the EEC to arbitrarily extend deadlines or budgets.
The high-speed rail project linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports is a critical infrastructure backbone of Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) that has faced prolonged negotiations and delays. The government's firm stance on adhering strictly to the original contract and public procurement laws highlights a cautious approach to avoiding deviations from the initial agreement.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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