BMTA gets new acting boss amid NGV bus debacle

Deputy permanent secretary for transport Somsak Hommuang has been appointed acting chief of the bedeviled Bangkok Mass Transit Authority amid hope he will help speed up the BMTA’s decision on whether to scrap the purchase of natural gas vehicle (NGV) buses.

The appointment was approved yesterday by the BMTA’s board, its chairman Pol Gen Ake Angsananont said yesterday.

The move follows an order by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha last Wednesday to transfer Mr Somsak’s predecessor, Surachai Eamvachirasakul, to the Prime Minister’s Office.

It also comes amid reports Gen Prayut will be asked to exercise Section 44 of the interim charter to reorganise the concessions which the BMTA grants private firms to run buses on certain routes without waiting for them to expire, according to a source at the transport ministry.

This is aimed at speeding up a reform plan for city buses, the source said.

But a more immediate concern for Mr Somsak is the need for the BMTA to make its stance clearer on a plan to buy 489 NGV buses for 3.3 billion baht.

The BMTA has signed a contract to this effect with Bestlin Group but the agency chief can void it if any breaches are found, according to Pol Gen Ake.

He added a decision is due “as soon as April”.

The group was supposed to deliver the buses last December but delays set in after the Customs Department found importer Super Zara had not paid the appropriate import taxes.

As a result, the buses were put in lockdown at Laem Chabang port.

Early last month, Mr Surachai said the BMTA had decided to scrap the contract, but the BMTA delayed informing Bestlin Group of its decision to avoid a possible civil lawsuit.

The BMTA later decided to seek legal advice from two government agencies before making a final decision.

Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akrathit said yesterday the BMTA’s dilly-dallying on the matter was one of the reasons Mr Surachai was transferred as the new buses are needed to help the BMTA cut the costs incurred by harbouring an ageing fleet.

The other reason concerns the BMTA’s broader reform plan, he said.