BMA may have to review its expensive Skywalk plan

[Coss]

The Office of the Auditor General of Thailand (OAG) has reportedly recommended the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to review its expensive Skywalk projects, following its findings that it was not worthwhile the money, lacked good menegerial readiness, did not serve the purposes of encouraging less use of passenger cars, and rather be beneficial to business operators than the general public.

 

In an OAG written statement to the BMA, it said no mandatory feasibility study had been conducted while there were no details over who were exact beneficiaries of the Bt15.2billion project, as well as over those who had opposed it. The OAG recommendation called on the BMA leadership to review its 4.25billion first phase of the project, or continue partly with sections considered worthwhile.

 

"The Bt4.25billion project is at risk of failing to serve its purported purposes and ending up in detrimental results. And on condition that linking with those buildings could product monetary returns, but this idea is rather beneficial to those buildings rather than to the public," the OAG statement said.

 

In two BMAconducted surveys of opinions, which favoured the project, respondents were not notified of expensive project cost and worthiness and usefulness of the project. In the BMA's own project proposal, the numbers of roadside buildings or condominium which might be interested in linking walkways with the Skywalk were not provided.

 

The OAG, in a statement signed by acting governor Phisit Leelawachirophas, also said a public hearing over the project, with opponents and academics present, was required, while the BMA was needed to submit its management plan of the project if it want to further continue with the project.

 

The BMA also failed to give details on how to prevent hawkers putting up their stalls on Skywalk, on details and the number of motorists who would park their cars and use the Skywalks in all four planned directions. In certain sections of Skywalk connected to BTS stations, Skywalk users still have to pay skytrain tolls to walk through.

 

An advocacy group on environmental conservation, AntiGlobal Warming Association (AGWA), issued a statement last month questiong the BMA high project cost, more than Bt300 million per kilometre, while the existing structure built under BTS route cost just Bt58.82 million a km.

 

In three surveys of opinions, with the first and third by BMA, the first showed 88.8 per cent of support, and second, conducted by Chulalongkorn University at BMA request, showed 68.9 per cent, and the third showed 87.2 per cent.

 

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[Bangkoktraveler]

Sounds like the rich would benefit while the poor pay the tab.

[cavanami]

Would put more street/sky walk vendors to work!