Transparency for big projects

INFRASTRUCTURE: The Construction Sector Transparency Initiative (CoST) has been applied to five government infrastructure projects worth a combined 50 billion baht, says Suttirat Rattanachot, head of the ComptrollerGeneral’s Department.

CoST has been adopted by the government in an attempt to ensure infrastructure projects’ procurement process is transparent by allowing observers to monitor the process starting from drafting the terms of reference to the project handover.

The five projects are a 16.7-billionbaht upgrade of Suvarnabhumi airport by Airports of Thailand, a 31.2-billionbaht expressway linking Rama III Road, Dao Khanong, and Kanchanaphisek Road, a 3.7-billion-baht flood relief project in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district, a 1.32-billion runway and taxiway project at Betong airport in Yala province, and a 947-million-baht building by the Institute of Dermatology.

An assurance panel to inspect data has completely inspected procurement of these projects and reports will be publicised on the department’s website next month.