Politics
Bangkok City Council Rejects 6 Billion Baht EV Garbage Truck Budget
The Bangkok Metropolitan Council has voted to cut a 6.038 billion baht budget proposal for leasing 1,347 electric garbage trucks, halting the administration's clean energy transition plan.
According to a report by Prachachat Business, the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) has officially rejected a major budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year. The administration, led by Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, had sought approval for a 6.038 billion baht project to lease 1,347 electric vehicle (EV) garbage trucks as part of a broader initiative to modernize the city's waste management and promote clean energy.
In a decisive vote, the council members voted 27 to 19 to cut the entire budget for the project. This decision effectively halts the administration's plan to transition the city's waste collection fleet to electric power. The rejection follows intense debate between the executive branch and the council regarding the necessity and financial structure of the procurement.
For residents and those living in Bangkok, this development means that the current waste collection system will remain unchanged for the time being, as the planned modernization has been stalled. While the administration aimed to reduce urban pollution through this transition, the council's opposition highlights ongoing scrutiny over municipal spending and project implementation. It remains to be confirmed whether the administration will attempt to revise the proposal or seek alternative methods to address the city's waste management infrastructure needs in future budget cycles.
