BMA Giant Tunnel Project and NWR Financial Crisis Analysis

MGR Online•General•9d ago

Reader Briefing

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is facing scrutiny over a 9.5 billion baht tunnel project involving a consortium led by Nawarat Patanakarn, which is undergoing business rehabilitation.

•The NC-NB Joint Venture, led by Nawarat Patanakarn PCL and China Real Estate Co., Ltd., offered the lowest bid of 9,518 million baht for the Bueng Nong Bon water tunnel project.
•Nawarat Patanakarn PCL filed for business rehabilitation with the Central Bankruptcy Court on May 29, 2026.
•The Comptroller General's Department is preparing to revoke the name of Nawarat Patanakarn PCL from the registry for failing to submit special contractor status documents by June 30, 2026.
•Governor Chadchart Sittipunt signed the approval to start the e-bidding process on April 28, 2026.

Overview

•Chadchart Sittipunt signed approval for the e-bidding process on April 28, 2026.
•The Drainage Department issued the invitation for bids on May 20, 2026.
•Nawarat Patanakarn PCL filed for business rehabilitation on May 29, 2026, after facing insolvency.
•The NC-NB Joint Venture bid 9,518 million baht, which is 43 million baht lower than the median price of 9,561 million baht.
•The Drainage Department stated on July 31, 2026, that the project is still in the result consideration stage and no official winner has been announced.
•Nawarat Patanakarn PCL has three existing BMA Drainage Department projects worth over 11,000 million baht that are significantly behind schedule.
•Chadchart Sittipunt sent a letter to the Comptroller General's Department on August 4, 2026, inquiring if a contract can be signed given the circumstances.
•Chadchart Sittipunt admitted the project had initial problems regarding design that did not align with actual site conditions.

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Key Quotes

Jesada Chantaraprapha

"As of the inspection date, the registration status does not yet show revocation, and the company's qualifications are exempted according to the Procurement Problem Diagnosis Committee's most urgent letter No. Kor Kor (Kor Wor Jor) 0405.2/Wor 124 dated March 1, 2023."

ณ วันที่ตรวจสอบ สถานะทะเบียนยังไม่ปรากฏการเพิกถอน และคุณสมบัติของบริษัทได้รับการยกเว้นตามหนังสือคณะกรรมการวินิจฉัยปัญหาการจัดซื้อจัดจ้างฯ ด่วนที่สุด ที่ กค (กวจ) 0405.2/ว 124 ลงวันที่ 1 มี.ค. 66

Key Entities

Person

Chadchart Sittipunt(ชัชชาติ สิทธิพันธุ์)ℹ️

Governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration who approved the e-bidding process for the tunnel project.

Jesada Chantaraprapha(เจษฎา จันทรประภา)

Director of the Drainage Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Patricia Mongkhonwanit(แพตริเซีย มงคลวนิช)

Director-General of the Comptroller General's Department.

Organization

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The local government body managing the water tunnel construction project.

Drainage Department(สำนักการระบายน้ำ)

The department within the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration responsible for the tunnel project and bidding process.

Nawarat Patanakarn PCL(บมจ.เนาวรัตน์พัฒนาการ)

A construction company and lead member of the NC-NB Joint Venture currently undergoing business rehabilitation.

China Real Estate Co., Ltd.(บริษัทไชน่า เรียลเอสเตท จำกัด)

A Chinese capital group and member of the NC-NB Joint Venture.

NC-NB Joint Venture(กิจการร่วมค้า NC-NB)

The consortium consisting of Nawarat Patanakarn PCL and China Real Estate Co., Ltd. that bid for the tunnel project.

Comptroller General's Department(กรมบัญชีกลาง)ℹ️

The government agency responsible for procurement regulations and contractor registration.

Central Bankruptcy Court(ศาลล้มละลายกลาง)

The court where Nawarat Patanakarn PCL filed for business rehabilitation.

Office of the Auditor General(สตง.)

The organization whose building collapse is mentioned as a warning sign.

ThaiPublica

A media outlet that investigated the financial status of Nawarat Patanakarn PCL.

Krungthep Turakij(กรุงเทพธุรกิจ)ℹ️

A media outlet that investigated the financial status of Nawarat Patanakarn PCL.

Place

Bueng Nong Bon(บึงหนองบอน)

The location of the proposed water drainage tunnel project.