The B66 million landscaping and bike path project at Nai Harn Lake was set for completion by early February.
The project, in total 1,973 meters long, will see parking spaces made available alongside the park beside the lake as well as a bike lane and the installation of solar-powered street lights.
The contract, with developer Sasivarai Construction for precisely B66,600,000, was initially agreed to on May 7 last year, with 515 days allowed to complete the works.
However, due to delays in the official bidding process, the completion date was pushed back to Feb 10, 2025, Rewat Areerob, former PPAO President, told The Phuket News just before Christmas.
“If the project is not completed by the new deadline, daily penalties will apply,” Mr Rewat assured.
Mr Rewat who was re-elected to PPAO President in the Feb 1 PPAO elections, told The Phuket News this week that he expects the Election Commission to officially certify his re-election on Feb 21.
“Before the end of this month, once I receive the official announcement, I will quickly deal with the Nai Harn renovation issue,” he said.
Despite winning the election, Mr Rewat emphasised that he currently has no authority to take action.
“Right now, I can’t give any orders, even though I won. I still need to wait for the official process,” he explained.
Rewat also addressed concerns about the contractor responsible for the project. He revealed that the company was selected through the government’s E-bidding system, which prioritises the lowest bid.
“The problem is that government officials choose the cheapest option. This company won the bid by undercutting others by B6mn, but after construction began they ran out of budget and they couldn’t continue, leading to a complete halt in progress,” he said.
Mr Rewat assured the public that once he officially takes office, he will immediately take action to resolve the issue.
“I promise I will get it done right away. The current contractor will face penalties for failing to complete the work. If necessary, their contract will be canceled, and a new contractor will be hired,” he stated.
While he could not provide a definitive completion date, he reassured residents that the project will be finished as soon as possible.
“I am sure I will replace the contractor and make Nai Harn beautiful as planned. It won’t take long,” he promised.
For now, residents will have to wait for the official process to conclude before any further action can be taken, he noted.