BMA to go ahead with BRT plan despite warnings

Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday that he had not been told about DSI's demand for additional information on the procurement of 45 BRT vehicles worth Bt387 million, and so could not comment yet.

Apirak, who started promoting this project since he first took office, said he had written to the DSI asking if the project could go ahead and if the undertaking were delayed any further, the BMA and the contractor would suffer losses. He added that he had assigned city clerk Pongsak Semsan and related agencies to manage the project's progress and solve problems. He confirmed that the entire procedure would be legal.

A source at the BMA Traffic and Transportation Department said department chief Jumpol Sampaopol had on Monday announced the second online auction for the 16.5kilometre Chong NonsiSaphan KrungthepRatchapreuk BRT route. Private firms have until November 14 to apply.

The preliminary list of qualified bidders would be announced on November 21, the source said, and interested parties had until November 4 to buy the Bt80,000 application form.

The previous online auction on April 28 failed because only one bidder had submitted a quotation.

On Monday, DSI said it was aiming to conclude its investigation before the end of the year. Pol Colonel Prawes Moonpramuk, who is leading the probe, has suggested that the BRT plan be suspended because evidence showed that something had gone wrong in the bidding process.

DSI took up the case after former city clerk Nathanon Thavisin filed a complaint about irregularities such as overpricing and specifications that favoured some bidders.