April 8th, 2006, 09:28
Source: Bangkok Post Saturday April 08, 2006
New airport'will not be open in July'
Construction delays, cost increases blamed
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
The contractor has admitted that Suvarnabhumi airport cannot open in July, as caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced, due to delays in construction and cost increases. A source at the Transport Ministry said the new airport could not meet the July opening schedule because many construction jobs were delayed, which held up operational tests.
To speed up construction, parties responsible for the project intend to divert over 40 construction contracts to fast outsourcing, without open bidding contests. The practice could lead to favours of specifications for particular contractors, the source said.
''All parties know that the airport cannot open this July but no one dare speak out, fearing that it could deal a blow to Mr Thaksin, who made the announcement.
''If the opening was postponed until December, those 40 contracts would be subject to open bidding contests,'' the source said.
Many airlines had expressed concern over the delay and doubted the airport would open in July, the source added.
A source in ITO Joint Venture, the constructor of the airport, said it needed another three to four more months to finish work and officials responsible for the project were already aware of the situation.
A source at Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) said that, apart from delayed construction, ITO Joint Venture was demanding an additional six billion baht from AOT for increasing construction work at the new Bangkok airport.
The joint venture led by Italian-Thai Development Plc said it had to do more work than specified in its original contract but AOT has not agreed to the additional sum. The dispute is also delaying completion of the airport.
According to the source, more construction work was assigned because the government wanted to increase the capacity of the new airport from 30 million passengers a year to 45 million.
Higher costs of raw materials also add to the dispute.
To settle the issue, AOT asked a committee of outsiders to examine the additional construction work and compared the cost claim with market prices.
The committee consists of representatives from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, the Association of Siamese Architects, the Council of Engineers, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Comptroller-General's Department and the ministries of transport and commerce.
Earlier the joint venture demanded an extra two billion baht, but the AOT approved only 600 million baht. The final additional cost should not reach the six-billion-baht claim, the source said.
The original cost of the new airport stood at 120 billion baht.
Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdeepon said verification of the extra money claimed would delay the airport's opening but careful consideration was worth the time.
However, caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal insisted yesterday that the airport could open in July and Don Muang airport would close at that time.
He said luggage conveyors and scanners next to the western runway have been tested, but the tests for those near the eastern runway had just started. The tests will be completed next month.
Signalling systems for aprons and taxi-ways have been tested and the airport hotel will open next month when the public will be welcomed to visit the new airport, he said.
The roofing of the concourse buildings will be replaced in June simultaneously with repairs to leaks in the roof of the airport information management system building.
Tests of aircraft refuelling systems will start next month
New airport'will not be open in July'
Construction delays, cost increases blamed
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
The contractor has admitted that Suvarnabhumi airport cannot open in July, as caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced, due to delays in construction and cost increases. A source at the Transport Ministry said the new airport could not meet the July opening schedule because many construction jobs were delayed, which held up operational tests.
To speed up construction, parties responsible for the project intend to divert over 40 construction contracts to fast outsourcing, without open bidding contests. The practice could lead to favours of specifications for particular contractors, the source said.
''All parties know that the airport cannot open this July but no one dare speak out, fearing that it could deal a blow to Mr Thaksin, who made the announcement.
''If the opening was postponed until December, those 40 contracts would be subject to open bidding contests,'' the source said.
Many airlines had expressed concern over the delay and doubted the airport would open in July, the source added.
A source in ITO Joint Venture, the constructor of the airport, said it needed another three to four more months to finish work and officials responsible for the project were already aware of the situation.
A source at Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) said that, apart from delayed construction, ITO Joint Venture was demanding an additional six billion baht from AOT for increasing construction work at the new Bangkok airport.
The joint venture led by Italian-Thai Development Plc said it had to do more work than specified in its original contract but AOT has not agreed to the additional sum. The dispute is also delaying completion of the airport.
According to the source, more construction work was assigned because the government wanted to increase the capacity of the new airport from 30 million passengers a year to 45 million.
Higher costs of raw materials also add to the dispute.
To settle the issue, AOT asked a committee of outsiders to examine the additional construction work and compared the cost claim with market prices.
The committee consists of representatives from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, the Association of Siamese Architects, the Council of Engineers, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Comptroller-General's Department and the ministries of transport and commerce.
Earlier the joint venture demanded an extra two billion baht, but the AOT approved only 600 million baht. The final additional cost should not reach the six-billion-baht claim, the source said.
The original cost of the new airport stood at 120 billion baht.
Suvarnabhumi airport director Somchai Sawasdeepon said verification of the extra money claimed would delay the airport's opening but careful consideration was worth the time.
However, caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal insisted yesterday that the airport could open in July and Don Muang airport would close at that time.
He said luggage conveyors and scanners next to the western runway have been tested, but the tests for those near the eastern runway had just started. The tests will be completed next month.
Signalling systems for aprons and taxi-ways have been tested and the airport hotel will open next month when the public will be welcomed to visit the new airport, he said.
The roofing of the concourse buildings will be replaced in June simultaneously with repairs to leaks in the roof of the airport information management system building.
Tests of aircraft refuelling systems will start next month