Bangkok: The People's Power Party (PPP) has put a stop to Bangkok's electric garbage truck project, citing a lack of details and suspected lack of transparency. Concerns have been raised that investment budgets for districts might be reduced, which could negatively impact the public. The party plans to proceed with the second and third readings of the budget on September 15th.
According to Thai News Agency, on September 11, 2026, at the Bangkok Metropolitan Council's Irawat Pattana Building, the Special Committee reviewing the draft annual budget ordinance for Bangkok's fiscal year 2027 held a press conference. They outlined their review of the draft budget ordinance, which led to the halting of the electric garbage truck project. Chatchai Moddee, a Bangkok City Council member for Bang Na district and chairman of the ad hoc committee, revealed that the total budget of over 93,000 million baht was reduced by more than 2,600 million baht. Amendments were approved for a similar amount.
Chatchai further explained that this year marked the first time the Bangkok Metropolitan Council live-streamed its meetings, allowing the public to follow the deliberations for over 23 sessions, totaling more than 250 hours. Additionally, the People's Party has sent four external representatives to serve on the ad hoc committee reviewing the draft budget ordinance. These include Mr. Sirot Klamphaiboon, Mr. Woraphop Wiriyaroj, Mr. Arithat Yodchaikiat, and Prof. Dr. Amorn Pimanamas, each offering their expertise to ensure a comprehensive review.
Prof. Dr. Amorn provided eight observations and recommendations regarding the civil engineering budget, emphasizing the need for well-prepared budgets, efficient disbursement, and integrated system implementation. He also stressed the importance of preventative maintenance, innovation, and AI application to manage budget allocations effectively.
Mr. Arithach explained the next steps, noting that the ad hoc committee's report has been approved, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Council will consider and vote on the second and third readings of the items on September 15, 2026. He highlighted three key policy issues from the 2027 budget review, including a decrease in the investment budget for district offices and the lack of continuity in policy implementation.
Regarding the electric vehicle garbage truck project, the People's Party reaffirmed their support for transitioning to clean energy vehicles but decided to remove three projects due to a lack of preparedness and clear testing for cost-effectiveness. These issues will be discussed further in the upcoming council meeting.
Finally, Mr. Chatchai invited the public to follow the budget debate during the second and third readings on September 15th, encouraging them to monitor and discuss important projects for the benefit of Bangkok residents.