The Prolonged Journey of Bangkok’s Submarine Line Development: An Analysis of Challenges

Building a subway line in Bangkok or in any major city can be a lengthy process due to extensive planning and design, financing and budgeting, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, construction challenges, technological and engineering considerations, public impact and community concerns, and political factors. These complexities often lead to delays, with subway projects frequently exceeding initial timelines.

Planning and Design

Extensive planning is required to determine the route, stations, and overall design. This involves feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and public consultations which can take several years. The detailed planning phase is crucial to ensure that the subway aligns with the city's needs and can accommodate future development.

Funding and Budgeting

No single project is immune to funding and budgeting challenges. Securing funding for large infrastructure projects often involves complex negotiations and approvals. Governments must allocate budgets and sometimes seek loans or partnerships. This process can delay the start of construction, and even past financial crises can leave a lasting impact as seen in Thailand's 1997 Financial Crisis.

Land Acquisition

Acquiring land for construction can be a logistic nightmare, especially in densely populated areas. Negotiating with landowners and dealing with legal issues can significantly extend timelines. In the case of Bangkok, the city's rapid growth and dense population further complicate these efforts.

Regulatory Approvals

Compliance with local, national, and international regulations is essential. This requires approvals from various governmental bodies, which can slow down the progress. The bureaucratic process is a common hurdle in urban development projects like subway construction.

Construction Challenges

Building in urban environments poses unique challenges, including dealing with existing infrastructure, roads, utilities, and minimizing public disruption. Ensuring worker safety and managing the risks associated with unpredictable geological conditions are critical aspects of subway construction.

Technological and Engineering Considerations

Subways require advanced engineering solutions, particularly in cities like Bangkok, which face varying geologies and water levels. Designing and implementing these solutions can be time-consuming. In Bangkok, the need to build on soft grounds and high groundwater tables adds another layer of complexity to the construction process.

Public Impact and Community Concerns

Addressing public concerns and ensuring minimal disruption to communities can lead to additional planning and modifications. Engaging with stakeholders and communities in a meaningful way is essential to gain support and ensure the project's success.

Political Factors

Changes in government or shifts in political priorities can impact the timeline of infrastructure projects, potentially leading to delays or alterations in scope. The political landscape can create an unstable environment for long-term projects.

Financing the Project - The 1997 Financial Crisis

The 1997 Financial Crisis in Thailand played a significant role in delaying the construction of the subway. The crisis was triggered by Thailand's economic troubles, which sparked a regional crisis. The Thai government was on financial life support from the IMF, having accepted a 16 billion rescue bailout package. The economy came to a halt, with massive layoffs in finance, real estate, and construction, leading to the return of many workers to their villages. The baht devalued swiftly, losing more than half of its value, and the Thai stock market dropped by 75 percent. Finance One, a prominent Thai finance company, collapsed.

The austerity measures imposed by the IMF required the government to meet all its debt obligations, with the debt finally being paid off in 2002, a few years ahead of schedule. This situation created a significant financial burden and impacted the subway project's initial funding and timeline.

Project Implementation and Challenges

The project is a joint public-private partnership between the MRTA and Bangkok Metro Public Company (now BEM). The contract for the subway is broken into multiple sub-contracts, including civil works, tunneling, station and concourse construction, electrical and mechanical works, procurement of rolling stocks, track laying, and signaling. A specialist panel had to be set up to oversee the awarding of contracts, causing a massive delay in the initial phase as the project moved into implementation.

The 46 hectares subway depot in Huay Kwang needed to be constructed from scratch. The new depot is now undergoing expansion to accommodate future rolling stocks for the Orange Line. The key engineering challenge involved building on soft grounds and high groundwater tables. Diaphragm walls and reinforced barrettes piles had to be built to help stabilize the ground before actual drilling of the tunnel could start.

In conclusion, the construction of a subway line in Bangkok is a multifaceted process that involves numerous challenges. While the 1997 Financial Crisis played a key role in the project's timeline, the complexities of funding, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, construction, and public concerns all contribute to the lengthy process. Despite these challenges, the city's vision for modern transportation infrastructure remains strong, and various stakeholders are working towards overcoming these hurdles to create a more efficient and sustainable urban transport system.