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Published on October 14, 2007

It would be the first major allocation made after Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont assumed the position of interior minister overseeing the project.

Agencies have recommended the Interior Ministry scale down the costs.

A Finance Ministry report said the construction project lacked a clear spending

plan, while many cost estimates could be trimmed.

The Budget Bureau wanted the ministry to comply with benchmark prices set for government construction and purchase. For example, the ministry proposed buying a 40-seat bus for Bt11 million, while the market price for this is estimated at Bt5 million.

It also opposed a construction-cost estimate of Bt15,498 per square metre, arguing the cap

for government building is Bt6,400 per square metre.

The proposed project is seeking Bt1.1

billion for construction at Prachin Buri

and an additional Bt2.2 billion for furnishings.

The project has been on the drawing board since the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

Piyanart Srivalo

 The Nation