Phichit Residents Question Highway Repair on Already Good Road
The Department of Highways plans a nearly 10 million baht repair project on a section of Highway 113 in Phichit that residents say is already in good condition, sparking corruption concerns and calls for investigation.
The Department of Highways has announced a tender for contractors to rehabilitate the asphalt surface of Highway 113 between Phichit and Taphan Hin, from kilometer 81+400 to kilometer 82+198, with a budget of 9.95 million baht. The road section in question, which lies between a concrete stretch and leads toward Sirinwat intersection, is reportedly still in good condition, prompting questions about why a costly renovation is necessary. Local residents and anti-corruption advocates, including Rattana Petchai, a member of the Strong Sufficiency Economy Anti-Corruption Club of Phichit Province, have questioned the decision and urged authorities to investigate. Residents argue that the budget would be better spent repairing other roads in the province that are in worse condition, making the decision to renovate an already serviceable road seem wasteful.
