Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit defended the Transport Ministry's new headquarters project during a parliamentary session, responding to criticism from Surachet Pravinvongvuth, a party-list MP from the People’s Party, who questioned the necessity and scale of the construction.
Suriya explained that the project, planned since 2016, is not an extravagant expense but a necessity due to aging infrastructure. The current ministry building is over 71 years old and no longer adequate to meet operational needs. The site experiences severe overcrowding and traffic disruptions, especially during joint meetings involving 22 affiliated agencies.
Due to limited office space, some departments have been forced to lease offices across five different locations, hindering internal coordination. The new building, to be located at Bangkok Apiwat Central Station—Thailand's future rail hub—will address these problems while encouraging public transport use, aligning with the ministry's strategic goals.
The project was delayed due to COVID-19 and resumed only after the situation improved. The ministry now seeks funding in the 2026 fiscal year. The planned 22-story building will house all 22 affiliated agencies, including state enterprises and government departments serving over 80,000 personnel. Key building features include:
Total area: 115,196 sq.m.
Office space: 12,505 sq.m. for around 1,200 staff
Shared facilities: 45,897 sq.m.
Meeting rooms: 8,915 sq.m.
Parking: 47,842 sq.m.
Suriya stressed that the central facilities are designed to accommodate about 4,000 rotating users per day, representing only 5% of total personnel. Calculated over a 50-year lifespan, the investment is deemed cost-effective. He also highlighted savings from reduced hotel seminar expenses—estimated at 120 million baht annually—offsetting the construction cost over 30 years.
He criticized simplistic calculations that divide total area by headcount, arguing it misleads the public. The new building isn’t just for desk work but will support meetings, crisis management, coordination, and public services.
Suriya concluded that the project reflects prudent budgeting, long-term planning, and a commitment to improving public service efficiency—not unnecessary extravagance.