Bangkok Councilor Probes 5-Year Phra Khanong Fire Station Delay
A Bangkok councilor is demanding answers over the Phra Khanong Fire Station, stalled for nearly five years with three contract extensions and work only 74% complete. The delay has forced firefighters to pay for their own housing for years and degraded emergency response times from a temporary, ill-suited location.
Bangkok Metropolitan Council member Elf Phaknaya Amnuaydechkorn visited the Phra Khanong Fire and Rescue Station construction site to monitor progress and held talks with three parties: the contractor, the engineering department as project owner, and the station chief. The project began under contract in 2022 but remains unfinished; by March next year it will reach nearly five years. Elf stated the contract has been amended three times due to water leakage, delayed material deliveries from overseas conflicts, and labor shortages. However, discussions revealed these issues have been resolved, yet no sufficient justification exists for further extensions. The final contract period has already been exceeded by nearly 1,000 days. The project value exceeds 149 million baht, with about 60 million baht of work unfinished, mostly internal building systems. Progress has dropped from a previously reported 80% to around 74%. Elf noted she has met the contractor only once since monitoring began, raising concerns the project may not complete properly. The delay directly affects firefighter welfare and morale. Personnel were supposed to vacate on-site housing for one year but have now paid rent themselves for nearly five years, burdening those with families. The temporary station at On Nut 38 in Suan Luang District, originally a health facility, lacks adequate equipment storage, causing humidity damage. Distance from the temporary site hampers the 8-minute KPI response standard, and cramped space slows fire engine deployment, further impacting efficiency and morale.
