Mr. Jira Phongphaiboon, Hua Hin Mayor, has been assigned by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) to demolish four shopping booths beside Chomsin rail crossing to allow installation of automated rail crossing barrier. 

At present, the area along the railroad in Hua Hin legally belongs to SRT. Hua Hin Land Development Company has signed contract with SRT which allowed building of temporary shopping booths as submitted to the authority.  Thai law does not allow building permanent building on land belonging to SRT.  The company had submitted a building plan for constructing temporary shopping booths to Hua Hin Municipality in August 18th 1997, but it appears that the constructed buildings constructed were permanent (3 m wide and 2m high).  In total 80 shopping booths were constructed.  Hua Hin Municipality had filled a complaint at Hua Hin Police Station but the company continued building the shopping booths. The court case continued for 12 years until present.

The company tried to appeal against this case to the court whenever the Municipality ordered demolishing of those illegal buildings beside the railroad.  In addition the SRT Governor filled a complaint to the court requesting that the 4 shops close to the Chomsin rail crossing to be demolish to allow installation of automated rail crossing barrier. To date the automated rail crossing barrier was not used as it should be and Municipality was forced to spend more money on hiring men to open and close the track when a train was passing the crossroad.  The automated rail crossing barrier has been installed already for 2 months and as soon as the 4 shops are demolished, the system can be operated automatically.   

Eventually, the appeal of the company was dismissed by Bangkok Civil Court.  Mr. Somboon Dech Udom, Wangphong track maintenance inspector, has ordered demolishing of the 4 shops under supervision of Hua Hin Municipality on August 19 2009.

Mr. Jira Phongphaiboon said that the automated rail crossing barrier at Chomsin Road will reduce traffic jam and will improve road safety in Hua Hin. Hua Hin Mayor intends proceed with other projects as promised to Hua Hin residents during the last elections.

Reported by Natsupa Dechapanya

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