PHUKET: A date has finally been set for the opening of Phuket's new bus station - October 1, precisely a year after the first opening date was set, and almost two years since the terminus was finished.

The fate of the new building, erected at a cost of 47 million baht on land that was purchased for 80 million baht, now hinges on the local politics behind the issue being sorted in the meantime.

A meeting at the Transport Office in Saphan Hin, Phuket City, resolved today to ask Rassada Council to officially set out the reasons why they do not wish to proceed with opening the bus station, if that is indeed the case.

The proposal to deal with buses turning around in Thepkasattri Road, where the terminus is situated, includes provision of a u-turn through the present media strip that would be right outside the home of Rassada Mayor, Surathin Lien-udom.

Althouth the Phuket Provincial Administrative organisation has contributed 27 million to the station, the Rassada Council insists on running it. Opening it, though, has proved the hard part.

Rassada Council is up for reelection in September, so to avoid the bus station becoming an issue in the poll, the opening date has been set for October 1.

When the new terminus opens in Phuket City, the old bus station in Phang Nga Road will become the terminus for the local island buses that currently occupy the road outside Phuket City's fresh market.