High-speed train deal will be inked next week: PM

“Both the Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksyam Chidchob have confirmed that the signing will follow the timetable previously agreed with our private partners,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) will today review the contract draft before submitting it to State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to sign together with CP Consortium on October 25.”
A source from EECO revealed that the office had previously consulted with CP Consortium, which is led by Charoen Pokphand Holdings (CPH), for the drafting of a contract addendum stating that SRT must deliver 4,429 rai for the construction to CPH in two installments. The first installment covers 3,814 rai or 86 per cent of total construction area, and is to be delivered within 15 months over the contract being signed – a deadline of January 2021. The remaining areas are to be delivered within 2 years and 3 months of the contract signing, with a deadline of January 2022. Should SRT fails to deliver as per the schedule, CPH will be eligible for compensation and have the right to exit the contract.
According to the source, area delivery in construction contracts with private partners usually has a timeframe of 3-4 years, therefore the EECO may have to revise the contract addendum again to make sure that the timeframe is fair to SRT. Currently EECO and SRT are coordinating with Department of Provincial Administration to issue expropriation notices to owners of land along the project area, as well as contacting related departments to remove and/or adjust their infrastructure (such as power cables, electric poles) that may obstruct the construction, so that the area delivery can begin as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, CP chief executive Suphachai Chearavanont confirmed that CP would sign the contract on October 25 as scheduled, but refused to disclose any information about the addendum. “The EECO will reveal the details of contract in due course,” he said.
He also mentioned that CP Consortium will continue with the bidding for the U-Tapao airport development project despite the bidding committee earlier disqualifying the group due to late document submission. “We have already filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court and are awaiting the court’s ruling,” said Suphachai.