Passarin, a Bangkok MP from the People's Party, demands a review of underground construction safety standards after Samsen Road subsided repeatedly five times. She calls on Prime Minister Anutin to fulfill his promise after one year, noting no progress in preventing sinkhole incidents so far. Tags: [Samsen Road, Road Subsidence, Construction Safety, Prime Minister Anutin, Bangkok MP, Infrastructure, Public Safety]
On 10 November 2026, Ms. Passarin Ramwong, MP for Bangkok's District 7 from the People's Party, commented on the Samsen Road subsidence incident at around 3:30 p.m. the previous day. The site is near the entrance of Samsen Soi 30, adjacent to a Metropolitan Waterworks Authority pipe construction pit. This work is part of the Purple Line extension project, with joint venture CKST-PL as the contractor in the area. The incident highlights lax oversight and a complete failure of safety standards beneath the roadway.Tags: [Samsen Soi 30, Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, Purple Line Project, CKST-PL, Construction Oversight, Safety Standards]
Ms. Passarin stated that since assuming office representing the people of Bang Sue-Dusit areas, including Nakhon Chai Si Road and Samsen Road from Wachiraphayaban intersection to Kiakkai intersection—a stretch of about 2 kilometers—there have been at least five incidents of road subsidence affecting traffic: 1. Large sinkhole in front of Wachiraphayaban Hospital (24 September 2025); 2. Water seepage and road subsidence near the entrance of Samsen Soi 30 (25 September 2025); 3. Subsidence at Samsen Soi 28 entrance (10 December 2025); 4. Subsidence in front of the parliamentary entrance on Samsen Road (7 September 2026); and 5. The latest subsidence at the same spot near Samsen Soi 30 (9 November 2026).Tags: [Road Subsidence, Samsen Road, Wachiraphayaban Hospital, Traffic Disruption, Infrastructure Damage]
Ms. Passarin said that although recent subsidence incidents have been less severe than the large sinkhole in front of Wachiraphayaban Hospital, society should not accept this as normal or an excuse for government neglect. Fortunately, no one has been injured or killed so far, but damage to property, vehicle suspension systems, public anxiety, and lost travel time are ongoing burdens for those commuting on Samsen Road. Safe travel without fear of road collapses is a fundamental right of the public, and no construction project should compromise this safety.Tags: [Public Safety, Road Damage, Traffic Impact, Government Accountability, Commuter Rights]
Ms. Passarin explained that she has continuously pursued this issue through all legislative channels, including committee submissions, parliamentary debates, and inviting relevant agencies to inspect the site. She has also submitted general questions regarding standards and oversight of underground construction beneath traffic surfaces in Bangkok directly to the Prime Minister since the previous parliamentary term, and again at the first opportunity of the 27th parliament on 23 March 2026. However, several months have passed without any official response published in the Government Gazette.Tags: [Legislative Action, Parliamentary Inquiry, Construction Standards, Government Response, Oversight]
“I take this fifth incident on this road as an opportunity to demand the promise Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made to the House of Representatives in early October last year, to urgently identify construction errors and implement measures to prevent recurrence. More than a full year has passed, and I sincerely hope the Prime Minister has not forgotten his words,” Ms. Passarin said.Tags: [Prime Minister Promise, Construction Errors, Preventive Measures, Political Accountability]
Ms. Passarin concluded by calling on all ministries, government agencies, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, who use taxpayers’ money for these construction projects, to rigorously monitor contractor work processes, enforce strict penalties, and urgently raise safety standards for underground excavation beneath traffic surfaces. She emphasized the need for accurate engineering inspection tools to avoid repeated incidents that could lead to loss of life and property.Tags: [Government Agencies, Contractor Oversight, Safety Enforcement, Engineering Inspection, Public Funds, Infrastructure Safety]
