Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has defended the design and construction costs of new bus stop shelters in the capital and challenged critics who feel that they are too expensive.
He disclosed that there are 5,601 bus stops throughout Bangkok, but only 2,520 have shelters.
With the help of Navamindradhiraj University, he said that there are two designs. The M type will have three seats and the L type will have six. Which type will be built where depends on the space available and with an emphasis on usability, simplicity and accessibility for wheelchairs.
Chadchart said that there will be no long seats in the shelters, to prevent homeless people from sleeping in them. The construction cost of each shelter is estimated to be between 230,000 and 320,000 baht, depending on the design.
To date, 90 new shelters have been completed, 29 are under construction and 300 more are to be built within the 2025 fiscal year.
Critics comment that the new shelters are not suitable for the weather conditions in Thailand and will not protect commuters from rain and that there is insufficient seating for waiting passengers.
The governor challenged any contractors, who believe they can build similar shelters for 70,000 baht less than the cost estimated by the city administration, to join the bidding.
The governor insists that building the new shelters is not easy, because they are spread throughout the city and the builder must be careful not to damage underground utility networks and adjacent buildings.
He explained that public buses are a vital mode of transport for low-income earners and students and that user-friendly bus shelters may tempt more motorists to switch from private cars to public transport.
