PHUKET: A court has rejected an application to halt all work on a u-turn for Phuket's bus terminus-in-waiting, allowing the long delayed project to proceed immediately.
Delighted officials at the Phuket office of the Department of Transport are preparing to celebrate once the formal letters arrive at Phuket Provincial Hall and Rassada Municipality confirming the verdict.
From Monday or Tuesday at the latest, officials will be able to complete the work that has delayed the opening of the new bus terminus since October 2010.
The Administrative Court, convening in Nakorn Si Thammarat, heard the protest by former Rassada mayor Surathin Lien-udom on Tuesday after work began on the u-turn in Phuket's main artery, Thepkasattri Road.
Although a supporter of the bus terminus project at the start, Khun Surathin's backing was withdrawn once he learned that buses would have to u-turn in front of his home.
Transport Department officers hope to have the u-turn completed and the bus terminal spruced up for an opening before May, when Rassada holds elections for a new mayor.
Details of the reasons for the judgement by the Administrative Court are expected to be revealed in the formal letters next week.
Once the new terminus opens for buses from Bangkok and other provinces, Phuket's local buses will move from the downtown market to the old bus terminus off Phang Nga Road, with a new pink bus seung taew service to start up between the bus terminuses.
Delighted officials at the Phuket office of the Department of Transport are preparing to celebrate once the formal letters arrive at Phuket Provincial Hall and Rassada Municipality confirming the verdict.
From Monday or Tuesday at the latest, officials will be able to complete the work that has delayed the opening of the new bus terminus since October 2010.
The Administrative Court, convening in Nakorn Si Thammarat, heard the protest by former Rassada mayor Surathin Lien-udom on Tuesday after work began on the u-turn in Phuket's main artery, Thepkasattri Road.
Although a supporter of the bus terminus project at the start, Khun Surathin's backing was withdrawn once he learned that buses would have to u-turn in front of his home.
Transport Department officers hope to have the u-turn completed and the bus terminal spruced up for an opening before May, when Rassada holds elections for a new mayor.
Details of the reasons for the judgement by the Administrative Court are expected to be revealed in the formal letters next week.
Once the new terminus opens for buses from Bangkok and other provinces, Phuket's local buses will move from the downtown market to the old bus terminus off Phang Nga Road, with a new pink bus seung taew service to start up between the bus terminuses.
Whoopee !
At least a modicum of common sense has prevailed. How much time and money has been wasted getting thus far.
Not near to a total solution to Phuket's chronic transport problem but at least off to a good start.
P.S. Hope the formal letters don't get lost in the post.
Posted by innocent bystander on March 9, 2012 12:53