ACM Prajin Juntong is unsatisfied with his six-month performance in the Transport Ministry, blaming lengthy bureaucratic procedures for causing delays to projects.
Worried about the need to finish multi-million projects before the election, the minister is considering asking Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to use Section 44 of the interim charter as a shortcut to speed up work on some projects, he said during a recent interview.
Section 44 has already been used to deal with concerns over aviation safety and may be used for other projects, ACM Prajin said.
ACM Prajin said officials often face impediments in their work due to unexpected changes and hurdles.
One of the ministry projects ACM Prajin worries is not progressing swiftly enough is a plan to buy new buses for the capital.
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has decided to go ahead with the bidding for 489 buses fuelled by natural gas — or natural gas vehicles (NGV).
It wants to acquire another 2,694 buses for the city, a plan first hatched more than eight years ago.
Originally the BMTA wanted all its new buses to be NGV-fuelled, but it needs to review the plan due to a surge in NGV prices. This means officials need to conduct a new study into alternative fuels, including electricity.
This should take about 45 days, ACM Prajin said earlier. Then, the purchase plan will have to go undergo another lengthy process, including cabinet approval.
Other transport issues are facing timeframe difficulties.
"Taxi problems have not ended yet. We cannot put them in line by issuing orders alone," ACM Prajin said, apparently referring to unfair charges for passengers.
Drivers of five-door "van taxis" at Suvarnabhumi airport also are threatening to strike if authorities do not grant them a surcharge increase to cope with rising fuel prices.
"We are yet to expand Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao airports. Many railway projects have just started, while the single ticketing scheme is not finished," he said.
That project is aimed at allowing commuters to travel on Bangkok's subway, skytrain and Airport Rail Link using one ticket instead of three. The BSV Group won the bid to develop the ticketing system last year.
Test-runs of the system should begin next year, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning said.
With these jobs unfinished, ACM Prajin said he cannot be satisfied.
"Honestly, I'm not satisfied with the current outcomes," he said.
"Only when I have dealt with all the issues will I be able to say that I'm satisfied with the work."