The construction of a new terminal at Narathiwat Airport has fallen significantly behind schedule, prompting the Transport Ministry to warn that the project’s contractors could face contract termination and a potential ban from future government projects. The project, undertaken by a joint venture between OSO Engineering Company and China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group (Thailand), has experienced substantial delays, despite an extension granted due to last year’s severe flooding.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri stated that the original contract, valued at approximately 640 million baht, was signed on March 15, 2022, and initially set to conclude on January 16, 2024. However, progress has been slow, with construction advancing by just 0.51% last month, bringing total completion to only 39.24%. On March 4, the Department of Airports summoned the contractors to a meeting, stressing that if they do not increase progress by at least 5% per month within the next eight weeks, the contract will be revoked and the companies may be barred from future government tenders.
China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group (Thailand), a subcontractor in the airport project, is also under scrutiny for its involvement in other delayed or compromised construction projects. This includes the 30-storey State Audit Office building in Bangkok, which collapsed following the Myanmar earthquake on March 28, and a nine-storey hospital building at Songkhla Hospital. Authorities have heightened inspections of projects linked to the company, with engineers and public works officials closely monitoring structural integrity and material quality.
The Department of Airports has directed consultants to conduct urgent assessments of the Narathiwat Airport terminal’s construction standards, materials, and machinery, with results expected within three days. Officials, including engineers and government representatives, continue to oversee progress as the ministry evaluates whether the project can be salvaged or if more decisive action will be necessary.
