Bangkok: The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is urgently reviewing contracts for the 3rd and 4th double-track railway projects to determine if any conditions have been violated. The acting governor of the SRT revealed that initial compensation of 340,000 baht per person has been provided and preparations are underway to consider filing a civil lawsuit against the companies responsible for the damages.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Anan Pothinimdaeng, Acting Governor of the SRT, shared insights following a meeting with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister instructed him to examine the contract terms to identify any violations that might lead to contract termination. The investigation will prioritize contracts 3 and 4, focusing on the double-track railway in Sikhiu District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, with other contracts also under scrutiny to prevent recurrence of similar issues.
The compensation plan involves providing 340,000 baht per person, incorporating project insurance funds expected to total around 1,000,000 baht. Additional compensation sources, such as social security, will be considered individually. Initial compensation will be given to two injured foreign nationals, with further assessments to follow.
Regarding track repairs, efforts will focus on removing remaining steel structures, with four large cranes deployed to start work on January 16th. Subsequent repairs are expected to take about seven days, with railway operations unaffected due to an alternative route through Buayai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, to Ubon Ratchathani Province.
Mr. Anan mentioned that the damage to the railway, including train cars and locomotives, along with delays caused to other trains, will lead to a civil lawsuit against the contractor. Preliminary estimates suggest the damage to two train cars is approximately 105 million baht, excluding compensation for fatalities.