Funding concern over Futsal stadium: BMA

After a meeting yesterday of city executives, Jate Sopitpongstorn, an adviser to the BMA governor, told reporters the department failed to approve a third-instalment of Bt100 million to build the Bangkok Futsal Arena. This was despite the fact that it had previously allocated Bt300 million out of the Bt1.24-billion budget needed. This would affect the construction, which should complete by November when the tournament will take place, he said. 

Deputy city clerk Jumpol Sampaopol and BMA departments were assigned to issue an urgent letter to the department about the matter and would require a written response. The city would also send a letter to the government to notify it about what happened, as the city did not believe the government would block such funding, because this would affect the project as well as the city’s and the country’s image, Jate said. 

BMA executives discussed an initial solution of using the city’s money to pay upfront, to keep the project going and ensure it is done by November.

Earlier in the morning, deputy governor Taya Teepsuwan posted on Twitter (@TayaTeepsuwan) that city executives were discussing why the department wouldn’t pay the third funding instalment for the stadium construction, saying the city would seek urgent funds to build the stadium because this a national event that shouldn’t be politicised and that everyone should work together to get the stadium built by November.