A 9.9 million baht solar street-light project in Mukdahan has drawn scrutiny after anti-corruption campaigners questioned why 148 lamps were installed so closely together.

Nikhom Kham Soi Municipality mayor Chalong Butkan said the project, which pre-dated his term in office, was appropriate and had brought benefits to the community.

On 3 September 2026, the Facebook page STRONG Against Corruption Thailand highlighted the scheme in Nikhom Kham Soi Municipality, Mukdahan province, under the heading "Dense solar street lights, 9.9 million baht".

Questions over lamp spacing and costs

The municipality bought 148 sets of 50-watt LED solar-powered road lights, each supplied with an adjustable-height pole and steel-pile foundation.

The project had a budget of 9,916,000 baht. The winning bid was 9,906,000 baht, or an average of about 66,932 baht per set.

STRONG said that a visit to the area appeared to show a large number of poles installed at short intervals. It asked whether such dense installation was necessary, what costs and specifications made up the 66,932-baht unit price, and whether calculations on pole spacing and illumination levels had supported the design.

The group did not claim wrongdoing. However, it said every baht of public money should be open to scrutiny and should be capable of showing value for money.

It called on the relevant agencies to publish the bill of quantities, unit prices, installation plans, distances between poles and engineering calculations. If there was no problem with the scheme, it said, disclosure would allow transparent public examination.

Mayor says the road serves multiple users

Reporters later visited the location with Mayor Chalong, who said the road had previously been dark and isolated, with few people using it.

He said a municipal sports ground along the route held activities two or three times a week, while other government agencies regularly requested use of the area. Wat Suphakorn Nikhom Thammaram also benefited from the lighting, he said.

According to the mayor, groups of older residents use the road for exercise before dawn every day. He said the lighting project was therefore suitable, worthwhile and beneficial to the community.

Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

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5 September 2026

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What is there about overpriced lamp posts that

sesms to attract Mayor's?

17 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

What is there about overpriced lamp posts that

sesms to attract Mayor's?

There is good money in it!

The best ideas go round and around.

1 hour ago, Jim Blue said:

What is there about overpriced lamp posts that

sesms to attract Mayor's?

Its called kick backs

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

There is good money in it!

The best ideas go round and around.

True, there are thousands of these in my province, put on roads where nobody lives. After a time, they stop working but the money has been made already. It's disgusting but as always, nothing will be done. :(

That's a crazy markup there!. hehe nothing new here, the major pocketed a good amount eh. I think half of that is on his bank account now.

Top of the line lamp cost only 4000-6000 Baht each. The pole maybe same or twice as the lights.

They do last very long if it's a real brand.

We have had mountains of street lights installed recently......not solar though........but on long stretches of very straight roads that are virtually unused after dark........to be fair some of them are vertical.

And after 5 years or so, the batteries need replacing.

Another payday.

Need to don the sunnies at night going down this section of road. Reminds me of this from a couple of years back.

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