The Tamesis
A succession of deadly tragedies has cast a shadow over the future of one of Thailand’s largest construction companies.
The Ministry of Transport ordered a 15-day shutdown on Friday involving 14 projects Italy-Thailand Development (ITD), and other large projects overseen by the department.
Officials said they would conduct safety inspections following two serious accidents this week. The first involves collapse A train falls from a crane in the Northeast, killing 32 passengers On Wednesday, two drivers died on the second day of Another crane crushes their vehicle on Bangkok’s Rama 2 Road.
See also: Cybercrime costs trillions of dollars in losses every year, UNODC says
The listed company said it would compensate victims of the accidents, including more than 60 people injured in a train collision in Nakhon Ratchasima province’s Sikhio district.
Chirapong Theppithuck, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport, said the suspension of the Italo-Thailand project will allow a team of experts to conduct detailed inspections to ensure safety standards are met.
He also ordered other major construction projects commissioned by the Transportation Ministry to halt work for up to 15 days for similar inspections, a statement said.
The results will be reported to the ministry and legal and regulatory action will be taken if necessary, it said.
This week’s crane collapse is the latest in a series of fatal accidents at construction projects in Thailand, several of which have involved Italians and Thais, including A partially built tower collapsed in Bangkok last year A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck neighboring Myanmar, killing at least 89 people and 23 people were accused of neglecting their duties.
PM says builders must be blacklisted
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday ordered transport officials to cancel the contract with ITD following the tragedy of two crane collapses.
Speaking after a meeting to discuss construction safety, Anutin said the accidents, which killed nearly three dozen people, had shocked the public.
He directed officials to take legal action and Blacklist construction contractorsThe Bangkok Post said it was based on recommendations from the Council of State and the Attorney General’s Office.
Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, is in the midst of a massive infrastructure boom, building highways and high-speed rail across the country and expanding Bangkok’s elevated rail network.
However, there are concerns and debate over the government’s policy of allowing construction to continue on busy motorways and rail lines where trains are still heavily used.
- Reuters Additional input and editing by Jim Pollard
See also:
Conflict breaks out again on Thailand-Cambodia border over landmines
Thai police seize $300 million in assets “linked to fraud center boss”
Gold expected to boost baht as Thais keen to cut ‘grey money’
Thai court jails former PM Thaksin Shinawatra for ‘illegal’ hospitalization
Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire after five days of clashes
Controversial clashes on Thailand-Cambodia border kill 10 people
Thailand PM suspended; court to review case seeking dismissal of her
Cambodia’s fraud hub has tense relations with countries near and far
U.S. sanctions Cambodian Karen warlord’s money laundering ring
Thailand cracks down on fraud hub on two fronts, leaving thousands in trouble
Chinese builders linked to Bangkok tower collapse under scrutiny
