PHUKET Governor Wiichai Praisa-ngob has settled a claim for 2.5 million baht with a Rawai stayput whose refusal to move led to years of needless road crashes and unnecessary pain and suffering.
The cheque was handed over today, with many onlookers remaining reluctant to believe that such a high price had to be paid for 25 metres of stubbornness by an elderly local who also owns several properties in the Rawai region.
The initial asking price was reported as five million baht. However, Phuketwan was told by a family member several years ago that this was not a real valuation, simply a sign of the family's discontent at being overlooked when Viset Road expanded to four lanes . . . without official notification and the negotiated purchase of their property.
Soon after the asking price of five million baht was suggested, a Highways Department official's response was: ''Well, the owners are old. They will not live forever.''
The unhappy outcome was that the stayputs, whatever the justification for their indignation, created a traffic hazard, suddenly narrowing the newly made highway from four lanes to three.
Locals lost count of the number of people who, not having time to take notice of the large flashing neon arrow advising them to move right, injured themselves at that point in Viset Road.
The road has now been remade to a full four lanes. Sanity has returned.
There were not many smiles, however, when the governor handed over the 2.5 million baht check today to the property owner, who is now wheelchair-bound.
''Thank you very much,'' the governor said. ''It's good that you understand how many people have been injured on this road.
''If you are among the injured, you cannot buy a new life. I don't think 2.5 million baht is too high price a price to pay for saving lives, and for saving people from injury.''
The man in the wheelchair accepted the large version of the 2.5 million baht cheque for the media shots, but did not respond to the governor's speech and left quickly.
Most curbside landowners settled for 2000 baht to 3000 baht to allow Viset Road to expand to four lanes several years ago.
The cheque was handed over today, with many onlookers remaining reluctant to believe that such a high price had to be paid for 25 metres of stubbornness by an elderly local who also owns several properties in the Rawai region.
The initial asking price was reported as five million baht. However, Phuketwan was told by a family member several years ago that this was not a real valuation, simply a sign of the family's discontent at being overlooked when Viset Road expanded to four lanes . . . without official notification and the negotiated purchase of their property.
Soon after the asking price of five million baht was suggested, a Highways Department official's response was: ''Well, the owners are old. They will not live forever.''
The unhappy outcome was that the stayputs, whatever the justification for their indignation, created a traffic hazard, suddenly narrowing the newly made highway from four lanes to three.
Locals lost count of the number of people who, not having time to take notice of the large flashing neon arrow advising them to move right, injured themselves at that point in Viset Road.
The road has now been remade to a full four lanes. Sanity has returned.
There were not many smiles, however, when the governor handed over the 2.5 million baht check today to the property owner, who is now wheelchair-bound.
''Thank you very much,'' the governor said. ''It's good that you understand how many people have been injured on this road.
''If you are among the injured, you cannot buy a new life. I don't think 2.5 million baht is too high price a price to pay for saving lives, and for saving people from injury.''
The man in the wheelchair accepted the large version of the 2.5 million baht cheque for the media shots, but did not respond to the governor's speech and left quickly.
Most curbside landowners settled for 2000 baht to 3000 baht to allow Viset Road to expand to four lanes several years ago.
It is a shame all those injured can't take him to court and get some justice in this world Guess they will have to wait for the next.
Posted by mike on April 8, 2010 22:00