Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will appeal against the ruling of the Central Administrative Court ordering the city bus operator to pay 1,159 million baht in compensation to Bestlin Groups and its affiliates for illegal cancellation of the NGV bus procurement contract.
The court also issued an injunction to put on hold the new bus procurement contract between BMTA and the new supplier, CHO-SCN, a consortium of Scan Inter Plc and Cho Thavee Plc.
BMTA management and its legal advisors held an emergency meeting today (April 11) to discuss the court’s ruling and their next move regarding the compensation payment and suspension of the new contract.
Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said today that he was confident that BMTA had strictly followed the rules and regulations. He added that BMTA would proceed with taking delivery of the remaining 389 NGV buses from CHO-SCN Consortium after 100 units were already accepted and put into service in March.
BMTA acting director Mr Prayoon Chueykaew said the company’s legal affairs section was studying the court’s ruling and would appeal after Songkran festival.
Regarding the remaining 389 buses, he said the legal team was pondering legal implications whether they could be accepted or their delivery would be put on hold as ordered by the court.
Bestlin Groups executive Kanis Srivachiraprapha said the company had followed every legal procedure and legally won to bid to supply BMTA with a fleet of 489 NGV buses. But the city bus operator chose to revoke the procurement contract, he added.
However, he indicated that the company was willing to negotiate with BMTA to settle the matter.
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