In a recent social media post, Mr. Pristha Watcharasinthu, a member of the House of Representatives from the Democrat Party, raised concerns about the Thai government’s decision to hire a design firm for a new parking structure at the Parliament, despite the project not being included in the approved budget for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The project, estimated at a staggering 4.588 billion baht, is part of 15 approved projects but has sparked significant controversy over its funding and necessity.
Mr. Watcharasinthu highlighted that the construction of the parking facility, which has a design budget of 104.5 million baht, was awarded to AGCC Group on March 25, despite not appearing in the fiscal budget documents. He expressed concern that this move could lead to further issues regarding transparency and accountability in government spending.
“While I understand that many people face parking issues at the Parliament, such as officials and visitors, the scale of this project warrants careful consideration,” Watcharasinthu stated. He emphasized that the agency should first maximize the use of existing parking facilities before pursuing new construction.
He further questioned whether a study had been conducted on the current supply and demand for parking spaces. “Have we assessed the statistics regarding parking availability and demand? What alternatives do we have to improve the utilization of existing spaces?” he asked.
Additionally, Watcharasinthu pointed out that the agency should revisit the previous designs of the Parliament building to understand the original projections for parking needs and why they fell short. “If there was an error, who will be held accountable?” he queried.
The concerns do not end there. Watcharasinthu called for a transparent and inclusive process in the planning and execution of such projects. “Why is the agency moving forward with hiring a design firm when this project was not approved in the budget?” he questioned, suggesting that the agency might be using budget transfer mechanisms from other projects without proper oversight.
These questions are just a part of the inquiries that Watcharasinthu and his committee plan to address in an upcoming meeting with Parliament representatives.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the STRONG Anti-Corruption Network has also raised alarms over another construction project involving a 40.9 million baht elephant barrier in the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. On May 7, 2025, the STRONG Network reported that the elephant barrier, which was intended to protect both wildlife and local communities, has suffered structural failures shortly after its completion.
The STRONG Network stated that the barrier's collapse raised serious questions about the construction standards and design processes employed. “We have received reports that the construction did not adhere to the required standards, which raises concerns about whether proper protocols were followed,” they asserted.
Previous observations by the STRONG Network indicated that the project, which spans 10 kilometers, was not only at risk of failure but also potentially fraught with irregularities in the bidding process. They noted that only one bid was submitted in the public procurement system, which could suggest a lack of competition or transparency.
As of now, the project overseen by the Department of Conservation in Chonburi remains incomplete, with reports of broken pillars and other structural issues. “The cause of the collapse is likely due to insufficient construction practices, such as not using proper deep foundation piles and failing to compact the soil adequately,” the STRONG Network explained.
In light of these incidents, the STRONG Network has called for immediate investigations into both the elephant barrier project and the parking structure at the Parliament, urging the government to prioritize accountability and transparency in public works.
On the same day, the STRONG Network submitted a petition to the Thai Prime Minister, requesting that he consider allocating additional budget resources for railway construction in the Pak Chong area of Nakhon Ratchasima province. The group emphasized the need for better communication and understanding regarding budget allocations and project statuses.
As these issues unfold, public scrutiny of government spending and project management continues to grow. Both the parking structure at the Parliament and the elephant barrier project serve as critical reminders of the importance of rigorous oversight in public infrastructure initiatives.
With ongoing discussions around these projects, the government faces mounting pressure to ensure that taxpayer money is utilized effectively and that public works are completed to the highest standards.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the government will address these concerns and what steps will be taken to restore public trust in its infrastructure projects.
