Phuket Gateway Building

[grumpyoldman]

As you come onto the island and before queuing past the checkpoint on your right is this Phuket Gateway.

What in the world is that? What I see is an empty parking lot and what looks like an office building rapidly deteriorating, black mold growing on it.

Anyone know what this is?

[kenny999]

I have seen that building many times as well and the car park has allways been empty,

I will try and find out what it is used for.

[LivinginKata]

It's a sort of cultural tour of Phuket Island. Really not that much to see. Centre piece is a video show. Waste of public money IMHO.

Best thing is the very nice public toilet.

[zoso]

It's a sort of cultural tour of Phuket Island. Really not that much to see. Centre piece is a video show. Waste of public money IMHO.

Best thing is the very nice public toilet.

It's to commerate The King's 80th Birthday. some sculptures and turtles

[LivinginKata]

It's to commerate The King's 80th Birthday. some sculptures and turtles

Really .... I must have missed that when we visited (twice).

[zoso]

Agree with you on waste of public money. They build infrastructure,roads,pavements- everybody makes money then no maintenance. It's left to slowly rot.

[napalm]

I thought it had something to do with the Tsunami.....not !?

[Lannatyne]

A monument to corruption on Phuket

[steelepulse]

I wonder what was budgeted vs. actual cost? I'd say a lot vs a little, but maybe they got more value for money out of this than the proposed 9 million baht "Welcome to Patong City" sign.

I can't see this ever being on any tour companies itinerary.

[KarenBravo]

The Welcome Gate was a project by a certain female Phuket politician.

I believe there are marble pillars with the names of all the tsunami victims on it.

If I remember rightly, it was built at a cost of 46 million baht.

Edited October 9, 2010 by KarenBravo

[steelepulse]

Unless the building is 3000-4000 sqm, seems building costs were a bit inflated.

[napalm]

nepotism.....

[KarenBravo]

Unless the building is 3000-4000 sqm, seems building costs were a bit inflated.

Chuck in a feasibility study and an environmental impact study etc. etc.

[steelepulse]

Yeah I forgot about those 5-10 million baht studies. On top of feasibility study and an EIR, you'll of course need a traffic flow study along with a parking study. Poof, there's 20-30 mil right there before the first bit of earth is turned over.

Edited October 9, 2010 by steelepulse

[KarenBravo]

Yeah I forgot about those 5-10 million baht studies. On top of feasibility study and an EIR, you'll of course need a traffic flow study along with a parking study. Poof, there's 20-30 mil right there before the first bit of earth is turned over.

That's the way it works.

Doubly so if it happens to be a pet project of a politician using public funds.

Troughs and snouts........

[LivinLOS]

What is it ?? A highly profitable contract over which politicians can have 'assessment studies' and people can 'bid' for the right to build..

I dont think I have ever seen a car stopped there.

[Wellington]

What is it ?? A highly profitable contract over which politicians can have 'assessment studies' and people can 'bid' for the right to build..

I dont think I have ever seen a car stopped there.

Quite obvious to me ;

it's a sculpture of a very large white elephant.

[steelepulse]

>>I dont think I have ever seen a car stopped there.

You've never seen the new shiny S class and 7 series builder's cars there?

[grumpyoldman]

If there could be drive through access from both directions I think an In and Out Burger would work nicely there.

Popular U.S burger chain for those of you unfamiliar, much better than McD's.

[keestha]

Passing by there frequently, just once I saw a lot of cars parked, and then I thought this might be a meeting dedicated to discussing how to blow some new life into this project which obviously never got off the ground.