Phiphat takes a tough stance to control contractors abandoning work and mandates insurance to prevent a repeat of the Rama 2 incident. He stated that the government has only been working for three months and cannot yet measure concrete KPIs because transportation projects require time to develop.
At 10:30 a.m. on 8 July at the Government House, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, revealed a draft ministerial regulation to address contractors abandoning public construction projects. The regulation aims to impose stricter penalties on contractors who leave projects unfinished. The Ministry of Transport plans to consider various environmental factors, especially the current continuous rise in construction material costs due to the war's impact and unfavorable economic conditions. These factors will be included when assessing the reasons contractors abandon work.
The Ministry of Transport emphasizes safety as a top priority. Contractors taking on projects must prepare clear safety plans and obtain insurance to protect those at risk, helping to avoid and manage the consequences of unforeseen incidents. This is to prevent repeats of past events such as the accident in Sikhiu, Nakhon Ratchasima, the Rama 2 road incident, or the landslide that caused tunnel collapse in Chiang Rai. The law will require contractors to take greater responsibility and mandate at least third-party insurance coverage for uninvolved persons.
Phiphat added that on the same day, the Ministry of Transport will hold a seminar to brainstorm under the theme "MOT New Chapter." The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) will lead workshops on 13 July 2026, gathering ideas covering all transport routes: land, rail, air, and water. The seminar’s results will be summarized on 13 July 2026, after which the OTP will be assigned to monitor and track the progress of each party’s work to ensure all plans align with the Ministry’s policies.
When asked about Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul’s statement on evaluating ministers’ performance, Phiphat said that for himself and the three deputy ministers, the ministry’s work and KPIs need to be reviewed. He acknowledged that most of the Ministry of Transport’s projects are long-term, so it is unrealistic to expect results or completion within three months. However, progress will be reported regularly. The main focus is on the overall national logistics system, which must move forward effectively.