The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) board recently gave the green light for an extension on the civil engineering contract tied to the construction of the Muak Lek-Lam Takhong tunnel, a vital segment of the Sino-Thai high-speed rail project. This 181-day extension pushes the deadline from June 7 to December 5. Interestingly, despite the extended timeline, the contractor won’t be seeing any extra compensation, as clarified by the SRT.
This tunnel is a significant piece of the puzzle in the larger Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima section of the Bangkok-Nong Khai high-speed rail project—a massive collaboration between the Thai and Chinese governments. The project, as ambitious as it is, is not without its delays, currently running approximately five years behind its original schedule.
Costing an impressive 4.28 billion baht, the tunnel project encompasses a 12.3-kilometer stretch. This includes 8 kilometers of tunnel, 3.3 kilometers of ground-level rail embankment, and a kilometer of elevated track. The construction kickoff took place on April 19, 2021, and as of now, the project is nearly 91% complete.
The call for an extension arose due to delays in land handover necessary for construction. This particularly affected segments like the railway embankment between specific kilometre markers and the Phasadet 3 bridge. These delays were linked to a lag in land expropriation efforts. Fortunately, the hold-up has been cleared, and 100% of the required land has been expropriated and handed over, allowing construction to chug along aligned with the new timeline.
In other related developments, the SRT board has put forth the proposal of a draft royal decree aimed at defining land expropriation zones for the project’s next section, stretching from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai. The transport minister is poised to present this proposal to the cabinet, seeking its nod of approval.
Shifting gear to the second section’s construction, this phase is eyeing the acquisition of 1,991 land plots, amounting to roughly 1,345 rai. It involves 1,428 structures sprawled across Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai provinces. The budget set aside for this colossal task stands at nearly 12.42 billion baht.
Receiving the green light hasn’t been a speedy journey; the section won the National Environment Board’s approval on November 15 last year and followed through with the cabinet’s approval on February 4. Presently, they’re in the critical preparation phase for bidding. This monumental project, threading through the heart of Thailand, holds promises of transforming connectivity and ease of travel across the region, once the dust finally settles on its construction.
Why do these projects always run behind schedule? Another time extension is just embarrassing.
Considering land expropriation processes and governmental red tape, delays are almost inevitable. It’s not as straightforward as it seems.
I understand that, but we are now five years behind schedule! It’s ridiculous.
Government projects are notorious for these issues, maybe it’s time to rethink our processes.
It’s appalling that the contractor gets no additional compensation despite the extension.
If the contractor agreed to the timeline extension without more pay, maybe they’re to blame for some delays?
That’s a good point. Maybe they anticipated issues and were willing to make concessions to keep good relations with SRT.
I hope the environmental and community impacts have been properly assessed. High-speed rail can be a double-edged sword.
Exactly. There’s a fine line between progress and compromising our landscapes and necessities.
Agreed, we need to balance development with sustainability.
These costly delays are only adding to the burden on taxpayers, we can’t afford it!
It’s an investment in the future. Improving connectivity will boost our economy long-term.
Exactly, the initial outlay might be huge, but the economic dividends will be worth it.
I’m glad someone else sees the potential benefits. We have to think long-term.
It’s great to see progress, but can we talk about the impact on the local people losing their land?
Absolutely! Land compensation rarely values the emotional and historical ties people have to their land.
Why do projects like these always focus on major cities? Rural areas need infrastructure, too.
Let’s not forget the jobs this project is creating. It’s a vital boost to our workforce right now.
True, these large-scale projects do provide employment, but they are often temporary. Sustainable job creation is key.
Just another government vanity project. They should focus on upgrading existing infrastructure.
I think high-speed rails are the future. Fossil fuels are not sustainable; trains are eco-friendly.
And who doesn’t love the romance of train travel? It’s more comfortable and scenic than flying.
Agreed. Plus, they help lower our carbon footprint significantly.
This extension might have larger geopolitical implications given China’s involvement. Thoughts?
Too many focus on the challenges rather than the enormous opportunities this line will bring!
I am with you, Marta. Once complete, it will redefine efficiency and accessibility in our transport network.
I hope they build good WiFi into this thing. Gaming on a fast train would be epic.
Only time will tell if this project flops or succeeds.