City Hall looks to get to the bottom of BTS lift fiasco
Deputy Bangkok governor Amnuay Nimmano has ordered an inspector to figure out why the installation of lifts at its BTS skytrain stations is not complete.
Speaking yesterday at the City Hall office, Pol Lt Gen Amnuay said an inspector is looking to determine where and why there have been delays in the lift works.
The request is in response to legal action launched last Friday by a group of 98 disabled people. They have filed a class-action lawsuit against City Hall for failing to follow a court order to install enough lifts at BTS skystrain stations.
The group demanded city officials compensate them 361,000 baht each for the inconvenience caused over the period of a year.
The lawsuit came from Suporntum Monkolsawadi, a 50-year-old wheelchair user and secretary-general of the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities.
On Jan 21, 2015, the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) ordered the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to complete the installation within one year, or by Jan 21, 2016.
It was also ordered to ensure that all trains must have one carriage which can easily accommodate people with disabilities.
However, though 12 lifts have been installed in the station, only three connect to the platform, while the rest connect the street to the ticket offices.
If city officials are found to have been negligent in carrying out the work, they will be punished, Pol Lt Gen Amnuay said.
A contractor for the project found to have abandoned their work must be fined, he said.
Pol Lt Gen Amnuay also offered an apology to disabled people for the delay, saying the BMA cares for them and is trying hard to cater to their needs.
He said the agency has allocated a budget of 350 million baht to install lifts at skytrains for their convenience.
Pol Lt Gen Amnuay said he ordered the Traffic and Transport Department to come up with a plan to install the lifts and ensure that each step of the process is carried out properly.
He added that officials expect lifts at all 19 stations to be ready for use this year. At least four will be working by March, he said.