BEM rules out lower expressway tolls as proposed by Transport Minister

[webfact]

BEM rules out lower expressway tolls as proposed by Transport Minister

 

 

Bangkok Expressways & Metro Public Company has ruled out a proposal by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob for expressway tolls to be cut by an average of 5-10 baht, claiming that the company has already helped the government over the decades-long dispute with the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), a state agency which owns several expressways.

 

BEM and EXAT have recently reached a compromise agreement over the dispute, when EXAT agreed to extend BEM’s concession to operate three expressways – Srirat expressway, Section D of the expressway between Rama IX road to Srinakharin road and the Bang Pa-in to Pakkred expressway – for another 30 years.

 

In return, BEM agreed to drop the demand for 137.5 billion baht from EXAT for breach of contract over expressway fees, drop a dispute over a non-competition clause for the Pakkred-Bang Pa-in expressway and to settle for just 58.8 billion baht in compensation, which will be paid in the form of an extension to the concession contract to operate three expressways.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bem-rules-out-lower-expressway-tolls-as-proposed-by-transport-minister/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-08-16

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[mok199]

Just bring in the Casinos already and stop backing up traffic with toll boths and ridiculous harassing check points....let the good times roll...

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In return, BEM agreed to drop the demand for 137.5 billion baht from EXAT for breach of contract over expressway fees, drop a dispute over a non-competition clause for the Pakkred-Bang Pa-in expressway and to settle for just 58.8 billion baht in compensation, which will be paid in the form of an extension to the concession contract to operate three expressways.

This should read:

In return to be made whole, ...etc.

BEM negotiated a quid pro quo in compensation. It did not in substance give up any part of its compensation demand. It just accepted partial payment in different forms. That's still a government loss.

This is simply more financial waste by Thai governments but likely to be hailed by the government as a Win for the Thai People. Except for the fact that BEM decides the toll!

If the Thai government wants lower tolls or a toll freeze, it will pay for it in one manner or another. It becomes only an issue how to disguise any toll negotiations as a government success for public consumption.