Panel urges slashing budget for Thai rail hub sign

A probe into the spending on a new sign for Bangkok’s recently opened railway hub concluded with a suggestion: spend less.

Three weeks after the State Railway of Thailand came under fire for a million-dollar sign do-over at the Bang Sue Grand Station, an internal review resulted in a suggestion it should reduce the budget. The suggestion, however, was nonbinding. 

It suggested that they could reuse some of the letters used in the large sign, which was to be replaced with one reading the station’s long ceremonial name to the tune of THB33 million (USD$1 million). Other costs including planning, installation, and selection of materials should be reviewed as well to cut unnecessary expense, according to Sorapong Paitoonpong, Transport Ministry deputy secretary.

The team reviewing the project included architects, engineers, and Transport Ministry officials. It…