The House of Representatives’ newly appointed secretary-general wasted no time getting to work Monday, immediately extending the deadline for construction of the new parliament building.
Deputy secretary-general Saithip Chaowalittawil was named to her new position by the Parliamentary Officials Commission on Monday.
Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, president of the National Legislative Assembly, said an important mission for Mrs Saithip would be to facilitate the construction of the new parliament complex.
She will supervise the project that was delayed and required an extension of the construction contract, Mr Pornpetch said.
He added that as the House secretariat and the contractor agreed with the extension, there would not be any demand for compensation. Mr Pornpetch said he hoped the new building would be completed within his tenure.
Mrs Saithip signed the extension agreement with Pakpoom Srichamni, president of Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Plc (Stecon), Under the pact, the deadline was extended from Nov 24 by 387 days.
Project consultant Chotejutha Artsorn said delivery of part of the construction site -- Yothinburana School -- was delayed. The area would be delivered in early 2016 and old school buildings would start to be dismantled in the middle of next year, Mr Chotejutha said.
Dug-up soil still on the property also blocked progress. There now is a buyer for the dirt and its transport should be finished within 20 days, he said.
The project is 15% complete with the building's underground floors taking shape. Mr Chotejutha said that the construction deadline would be extended twice and the new parliament could be completed in early 2018.
Stecon quoted the construction at 12.9 billion baht and the construction period was originally set at 900 days. The new parliament would cover around 300,000 square metres of construction space on 119 rai of land in the Kiakkai area of Bangkok's Dusit district near the Chao Phraya River.