The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) faces pressure to resolve a 197.9 million baht (£4.5 million) backlog in land lease fees, per a formal request from the Rural Roads Department. This sum includes costs for using portions of Ratchaphruek Road and constructing two electric railway lines.

 

Pichit Hoonsiri, the department's deputy director-general, highlighted that the BMA was notified about these unpaid dues. Notably, under a Transport Ministry regulation dated January 1, 2022, the ministry can levy charges on government entities using land earmarked for roadworks.

 

The BMA owes 64.7 million baht (£1.5 million) for constructing the Green Line railway between Thon Buri and Bang Wa stations. Additionally, the agency must pay 177.5 million baht (£4 million) for using the land from 2022 to September 2023.

Further costs include 400,000 baht (£9,200) for using 2,000 square meters of road island on Ratchaphruek Road for a power station near Bang Wa station. The department also seeks 20 million baht (£460,000) for using sections of Krung Thon Buri and Charoen Nakhon Roads for the Gold Line, billed annually at 6.3 million baht (£145,000) since 2022.

 

The situation underscores ongoing challenges with inter-agency payments, especially important with continued urban expansion and infrastructure development in Bangkok. The outcome remains closely watched as negotiations progress.

 

By Ryan Turner

Image: Sawasdee Thailand

 

-- 2024-10-21

 

 

what's that in dollars? 

22 minutes ago, digbeth said:

what's that in dollars? 

https://www.google.com/search?q=197.9+million+baht+in+dollars&oq=197.9+million+baht+in+doll&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgBECEYChigATIGCAAQRRg5MgkIARAhGAoYoAEyCQgCECEYChigATIHCAMQIRiPAjIHCAQQIRiPAtIBCTc1MTZqMGoxNagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

15 hours ago, digbeth said:

what's that in dollars? 

Which dollars?