One small step for a tunnel

PATONG: The planned Kathu-Patong tunnel has taken a small step closer to reality with the publication of an “inception report”, the first report on progress in the 3-million-baht pre-feasibility study for the project. The inception report was prepared jointly by Skanska Teknik Co Ltd of Sweden and Bangkok-based Water Development Consultants Co Ltd. The pre-feasibility study, which is scheduled for completion by October 10, has been commissioned by the Patong Municipality, using funds supplied by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor). Copies of the report were presented to Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi and Dr Prasit Koysiripong, president of the OrBorJor, at a public meeting yesterday at the Provincial Hall. Slib Soongswang of Skanska explained, “We started on the pre-feasibility study after signing the contract on July 12. The study is not yet complete, but we wanted to show our employer [Patong Municipality] what we are doing.” The aim of the pre-feasibility study is to help the Municipality decide whether to proceed to a full feasibility study, which would cost some 20 million baht. Asked what the tunnel would be likely to cost, Ingvar Fyhr, Managing Director of Skanska, said, “From my experience, I would say a two-kilometer tunnel would cost about 2 billion baht.”