Bangkok Don Mueang Tollway fee hike lawful, judge finds

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COURT
Tollway fee hike lawful, judge finds
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- An Administrative Court judge yesterday suggested the lawsuit against the plan to hike the Don Muang tollway fee be dismissed on grounds the increase didn't break any contract agreement and public users could opt for a normal road.

Since this was the initial suggestion by the judge, the Administrative Court would rule on this case later on.

Yesterday, the defendants' representatives testified to the court that the hike was in accordance with the contract - while a decision on what route the service was to be provided on was up to government policy.

Judge Chayin Saengjan, who announced the finding, opined that this lawsuit should be dismissed because any fee increase didn't contravene the contract, which was checked and approved by a coordination committee including the Attorney-General and related agency officials.

Besides, he said, if the plaintiff and members of the public felt the fee was too expensive, they could opt for the Vibhavadi Road underneath the tollway.

Initial fight

Udon Thani-based independent academic Somkid Homnet filed a lawsuit against then-transport minister Sophon Saram, then-Highway Department chief Weera Reungsuksriwong, the Don Muang Tollway Public Company Limited as well the then-Cabinet over the contract.

It extended the tollway concession from 25 years to 27 years and allowed the fee increase - which would be in effect from December 22, 2009 - December 21, 2014.


-- The Nation 2013-07-18

[Cuban]

The price increase proposed was......?

The one thing that most will read this story for is missing.

[bubba]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Cuban. It's already 60 baht just to go from Din Daeng to Don Muang. How much more expensive do they propose to make it?

[bubba]

Also, the headline to the story here is:

Tollway fee hike lawful, judge finds

But the Nation story says:

Judge Chayin Saengjan, who announced the finding, opined that this lawsuit should be dismissed because any fee increase didn't contravene the contract, which was checked and approved by a coordination committee including the Attorney-General and related agency officials.

There is nothing in the story that says the judge found the tollway fee hike unlawful. To the contrary, the story says that the judge wants to dismiss the lawsuit against the toll rise.

So which is correct?

[thhMan]

I suppose more people may use the road instead, causing more problems, that will then need Govt money to fix, while upstairs/tollway may see a decrease in revenues due to the price hike... which is...???

I hope Thailand realizes the consequences either way...

[Salapoo]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Cuban. It's already 60 baht just to go from Din Daeng to Don Muang. How much more expensive do they propose to make it?

I thought the same when driving from Don Muang to Suwanaphum.

IIRC it was 25+85+45+25+20.

I thought it was rather expensive.

[Cuban]

As a seldom driver through BKK I consider it a necessary evil and happy to avoid ground police, for those that drive through frequently is seems first world prices for developing world services.

[Tomtomtom69]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Cuban. It's already 60 baht just to go from Din Daeng to Don Muang. How much more expensive do they propose to make it?

I thought the same when driving from Don Muang to Suwanaphum.

IIRC it was 25+85+45+25+20.

I thought it was rather expensive.

That is pretty expensive but everyone knows the quickest and cheapest way to travel from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi is by getting to the eastern outer ring road first, either via Rangsit if traffic on Ramintra road is heavy, or directly via Ramintra road.

[hawker9000]

Also, the headline to the story here is:

Tollway fee hike lawful, judge finds

But the Nation story says:

Judge Chayin Saengjan, who announced the finding, opined that this lawsuit should be dismissed because any fee increase didn't contravene the contract, which was checked and approved by a coordination committee including the Attorney-General and related agency officials.

There is nothing in the story that says the judge found the tollway fee hike unlawful. To the contrary, the story says that the judge wants to dismiss the lawsuit against the toll rise.

So which is correct?

Huh? OK - so a lawsuit is filed contending that the fee hike is unlawful. The Judge dismisses the lawsuit saying the fee hike IS lawful. That's exactly what the headline says. What's your question?

[hawker9000]

(deleted - the webpage won't 'submit' unless I punch it again, and then it doubles the post.... 'has happened multiple times over the last 48 hrs or so...)

Edited July 18, 2013 by hawker9000

[OzMick]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Cuban. It's already 60 baht just to go from Din Daeng to Don Muang. How much more expensive do they propose to make it?

I think you have forgotten the snail-like pace of Thai courts. The last words

".......allowed the fee increase - which would be in effect from December 22, 2009 - December 21, 2014."

indicate to me that the increased fee has been in place for over 2 years.

Edited July 18, 2013 by OzMick

[OzMick]

(deleted - the webpage won't 'submit' unless I punch it again, and then it doubles the post.... 'has happened multiple times over the last 48 hrs or so...)

Can I suggest a solution. The upload of posts seems to be slow, at least in confirming the post and allowing you to continue. Give it 20 seconds or so, copy for safety, then hit the back arrow and then refresh the page. Your post will appear on the refreshed page; but if you didn't take that procedure, you would still be waiting for confirmation.

Multiple posts are happening because posters running out of patience (rather than impatient) are hitting the post button multiple times.

[bubba]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Cuban. It's already 60 baht just to go from Din Daeng to Don Muang. How much more expensive do they propose to make it?

I think you have forgotten the snail-like pace of Thai courts. The last words

".......allowed the fee increase - which would be in effect from December 22, 2009 - December 21, 2014."

indicate to me that the increased fee has been in place for over 2 years.

I think that was the last increase. It seems that they are seeking a new increase with this one.

[OzMick]

I was wondering the same thing myself, Cuban. It's already 60 baht just to go from Din Daeng to Don Muang. How much more expensive do they propose to make it?

I think you have forgotten the snail-like pace of Thai courts. The last words

".......allowed the fee increase - which would be in effect from December 22, 2009 - December 21, 2014."

indicate to me that the increased fee has been in place for over 2 years.

I think that was the last increase. It seems that they are seeking a new increase with this one.

Sophon was transport minister in the Abhisit govt. so this a pretty old case. Unless the reporting standard is abysmal, the reference to "the fee increase" indicates that happened in 2009.

[belg]

nah, the tollway price is the same or less than 1 bribe to a cop for a traffic violation, true or false

[lee b]

A Rip-off again coming to a toll way near you