BANGKOK — City Hall on Thursday admitted it has failed to satisfy a court order that stations for the elevated BTS Skytrain system be made handicapped accessible.
One year after the Supreme Administrative Court issued a landmark victory to disabled rights activists, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration today apologized for failing to install elevators at 23 stations to make them accessible for disabled passengers as ordered by the court.
Disabled rights activist group Transportation for All filed the original complaint against the BMA and BTS operator Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co. Ltd. On Jan. 21, 2015, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled City Hall must install elevators and other facilities for disabled access at all of the elevated rail system’s original 23 stations within one year.
Stations built for extensions to those original lines, from Krung Thon Buri to Bang Wa, and On Nut to Bearing, each have four elevators, the BMA’s Amorn Kitchawengkul pointed out.
Amorn said the work is “57 percent” complete and will be finished in September, except for BTS Phrom Phong, where elevators will be ready in April.
The BMA said the delay was caused by infrastructure problems and opposition by landowners who complained the new elevators would obstruct their views.
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