Nakhon ratchasima: The Prime Minister held an urgent meeting after a crane collapse, criticizing government agencies for passing the buck. He questioned their approach to Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited after four similar incidents in 10 months, highlighting the collapse of the State Audit Office building as an example where no accountability was established. He emphasized the need for contract cancellation and a search for a new contractor, despite the project being 85% complete.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul chaired a meeting to discuss safety measures in transportation construction following the crane collapse. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand Anan Pothinimdaeng, Director-General of the Comptroller General's Department Patricia Mongkolvanich, and representatives from relevant agencies.
The Prime Minister began by addressing the urgency of the meeting, which stemmed from incidents at the high-speed rail construction project in Sikhiu District and at the Rama 2 elevated highway project. He expressed concern over the repeated incidents involving the same contractor, noting that many similar projects had gone unreported over the past 10 months. He called for discussions on necessary measures, legal amendments, and ministerial regulations, emphasizing issues within the current laws governing construction and procurement.
He also pointed out that after the State Audit Office incident, no contract cancellations or modifications were made, and construction had only been suspended. He highlighted the need for action against contractors, citing the Ministry of Transport's challenges, including the high-speed rail tunnel collapse and the recent incidents. He clarified that the State Railway of Thailand must be held accountable for the passengers affected, despite the contractor's responsibility for the incident.
The Prime Minister questioned how Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited would be addressed regarding the four incidents over the past 10 months. He stressed the need for government action to ensure clarity and public confidence, indicating that simply halting construction temporarily was insufficient.
He further mentioned that the high-speed rail project, where a crane collapsed, was 85% complete. He discussed the potential cost implications of hiring a new contractor to complete the remaining work and stressed the importance of pursuing the matter against the contractor who abandoned the project.
Finally, the Prime Minister urged for clear measures to instill public confidence and alleviate the concerns of those affected. He emphasized the need for decisive action involving regulatory bodies and legal advisors to prevent similar incidents in the future and to reassure foreign investors of Thailand's commitment to safety and reliability in its transportation infrastructure.