PUBLISHED: 9 May 2025 at 05: 22
A group of 30 lawmakers argued that the proposed 956 million-baht resources for the construction of the new congress complex is excessive, poorly prioritized, and not in the public interest.
Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, who criticized the construction plan in a media conference on Thursday, is in the lead.
Despite being in use for only four years, the building’s major structural issues, including leaking rooms, collapsed roof, mold-covered columns, and malfunctioning air conditioning systems, were highlighted.
Despite the task also being covered by a warranty, she noted, and this remains an open question for the contractor, especially given the building’s initial 22-billion-baht construction costs.
Sen. Nantana even criticized the perplexing building layout and lack of signage, arguing that visitors may “rely on intuition to navigate the maze.”
She revealed that no money will be spent on fixing the existing bugs in the proposed resources. Otherwise, it may pay for 10 related tasks, which she termed “unnecessary.”
The proposed repairs include the addition of a 4D film, improved lighting in conference rooms, and the renovation of the unused Parliamentary Museum. The installation of AC units in the Sala Kaeo ( Crystal Pavilion ), which Sen Nanthana warned would significantly increase electricity costs, is another contentious issue.
Moreover, she claimed that five more jobs are being pursued without receiving official acceptance. A fresh parking structure that is estimated to cost 4.6 billion ringgit, with an average of 1 million baht per parking area, according to one such strategy.
She claimed that the size and cost of the new job are disproportionately high compared to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s current minimum parking needs.
Instead of addressing public needs, she said,” These projects seem to be aimed at improving the comfort of parliamentarians.” We will use every route to stop this unnecessary spending.
However, Chatree Ladalalitsakul, the parliament building’s chief architect, wrote to the house to object to the construction’s plan to add an” Emerald Pool,” a crucial structural element that was intended to naturally cool the structure.
He warned that the house’s air and energy efficiency would be compromised if the lake were switched to a public libraries and shopping center.
The building was constructed using natural heating methods, and air holes that allow air to move through from all directions made it energy-efficient.
The whole place would need to be air-conditioned if the lake were to be filled in to house a library. I can’t even imagine the money being spent on installing air conditioning and closing all the gaps in a 10-storey place.