Bangkok: Officials are expressing concerns about the newly constructed Budget Bureau building after Chinese investors pulled out of the project. The building, with only 60% of its space usable, faces numerous issues and remains incomplete.
According to Thai News Agency, officials and administrators have been hesitant to commence work inside the Budget Bureau building due to damage caused by an earthquake. The building, though visually impressive from the outside, remains unfinished on the inside, with interior decorations incomplete. The 30-story structure, initially intended to be a symbol of modernity, has been left in limbo after the primary contractor, a Chinese joint venture named ST-MaxN-TW, abandoned the project. The ground to upper floors are still largely inaccessible, with many areas being used as storage.
The ST-MaxN-TW Joint Venture has a track record of project abandonment, including a similar situation with the Administration Building project at Trang Hospital. This project, intended to be a 7-story reinforced concrete structure, was left incomplete, leading to prolonged delays and deterioration of installed equipment. Although a third contract was signed on March 31, 2020, the construction was not completed as planned, resulting in the contract's cancellation on August 31, 2023.
Another example of the joint venture's history includes the Court of Appeals Region 5 project in Chiang Mai Province. The construction, valued at over 700 million, has been underway for over two years, with less than seven months remaining on the contract. Currently, only the foundation and steel frame have been built.
Additionally, issues have been reported with the Phra Khanong Civil and Criminal Court buildings, a project with a budget of over 304 million baht. The Chief Justice of the Civil Court has requested an investigation into this project, as the court facilities remain largely unusable. Out of 38 courtrooms, only one has been completed, and of seven elevators, only one is operational. The building also lacks a finished paint job and interior decorations.