Korat Rejoices! Final Tenant Vacates, Paving Way for High-Speed Rail Station Construction
Source - Siam Rath Website
Saturday, October 05, 2024 16:12
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) can finally proceed with the construction of the high-speed railway station in Nakhon Ratchasima. This comes after the last remaining tenant vacated a commercial building on the west side of the existing Nakhon Ratchasima railway station. The SRT had requested the return of 35 commercial units in this area to facilitate the construction of the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed railway project, Phase 1, Contract 3-5, civil works section Khok Kruat Station - Nakhon Ratchasima Station.
The land in question belongs to the SRT, and private individuals had leased it to construct commercial buildings. In early 2024, some tenants, claiming to have resided there for over 35 years, refused to vacate the premises and demanded relocation compensation. The SRT responded by posting eviction notices on the disputed buildings, stating that the leases had been terminated on June 25, 2023, and demanding the tenants vacate the premises by March 5, 2024. Despite the notices and barriers erected in front of the buildings, most tenants remained.
However, before the deadline, most of the defiant tenants finally moved out, leaving only one tenant operating a lottery and amulet shop. Despite the SRT's legal team's attempts to negotiate, this last tenant refused to cooperate. This obstacle delayed the contractor, SPKC Joint Venture Co., Ltd., from accessing the area and proceeding with the construction of the new 3-story station designed to accommodate both high-speed and conventional trains. The delay sparked public criticism questioning the SRT's authority over its own land. Legal proceedings were initiated, and after a six-month delay, the final tenant has agreed to vacate.
On October 5, 2024, reporters confirmed that the SRT announced the commencement of demolition of the buildings in front of the Nakhon Ratchasima railway station. This will allow the contractor to carry out the project scope, which includes:
1. Railway structure construction, 12.52 km distance, consisting of 7.85 km of ground-level track and 4.853 km of elevated track.
2. Nakhon Ratchasima station construction.
3. Building and infrastructure construction to support the electrical system.
4. Various relocation works.
The total project value is 7.75 billion baht. Heavy machinery has been brought in for the demolition and site preparation. The old station building, over 80 years old, will also be demolished soon. The project timeline has been extended by 440 days, with a new completion date of March 25, 2025.
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