The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has suspended the 33-million-baht project to redesign and install a new nameplate for Bang Sue Grand Station, which is currently under scrutiny over supposed irregularities in its contractor selection process.
According to a statement by SRT governor Nirut Maneephan on Monday, the SRT has decided to indefinitely postpone the project, which was supposed to begin on Jan 3, until the results of the investigation come out.
Unique Engineering and Construction Plc (Uniq) was picked to carry out the logo redesign on Dec 29, following His Majesty the King's decision to rename the capital's new rail hub as "Krung Thep Abhiwat Central Terminal" in September last year.
However, the project -- which would see 48 three-metre-tall Thai letters and 62 English characters installed at the station -- has come under fire over its high cost, with the public also questioning the "special" method used in picking Uniq as the project's contractor.
SRT had previously said Uniq was chosen because the company has carried out other construction projects at the new rail station.
Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob recently insisted that the selection process was carried out in a transparent manner, before asking the public to wait for the result of the ministry's investigation.
Deputy transport permanent secretary Sorapong Paitoonpong, as the leader of the ministry's investigation committee, said that the SRT had sent in a written clarification yesterday.
The committee has to submit their findings by Jan 19 -- fifteen days after the committee began its investigation, said Mr Sorapong.
Meanwhile, Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, leader of the Thai Civilized Party, yesterday petitioned Pol Lt Col Kornkaew Prayadsap, investigation chief at the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), to look into the bidding process as it might violate the rules which govern the submission of bids to government agencies.
He suspected that there might have been attempts to help a certain bidder win the contract or even efforts to prevent other bidders from taking part.
He wanted to see stiff penalties for those involved, before reminding that the investigation must be finished within 30 days as outlined by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission.