Graft alleged in Skytrain job

Published on August 22, 2007

The extension starts at the Taksin Bridge station and will link Bangkok's east to the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phya River. Bangkok Deputy Governor Panich Wikitset said yesterday the administration was inviting representatives of Bombardier to give a price for the job.

"We expect to sign the con¬tract by September 21," he said. But trials are not due to start on the extension until September next year.

But an informed source said they were irregularities linked to the project and why Bombardier - not Siemens - was chosen. Siemens offered a lower price and had done sig¬nalling for other Skytrain routes, the official alleged.

"We are uncomfortable about how this contract has been prepared and rushed," a senior administration official said on condition of anonymi¬ty.

Bids were being sought for the communications and dataacquisition systems for the extension, Panich said.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin was planning to find a qualified bidder through an eauction.

"We should be able to select the bidder for this part by October," Panich said.

Krungthep Thanakom had been selected to procure and provide ticketing systems, he said.

Panich reported on progress with the Bus Rapid Transit proj¬ect also. He said about 80 per cent of utilityservice equip¬ment had been relocated to pave way for the route between Chong Nonsee and Ratchapreuk. "Construction is about 60 per cent complete," he said.

He expected the first buses to arrive in March.

Jeerawan Prasomsap

The Nation