BANGKOK, THAILAND – Bangkok authorities began concrete preparations to demolish the controversial Aetas-Ruamrudee building after more than a decade of delays.
First visible move after final court ruling
According to the Consumer Council, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) started cordoning off the Aetas hotel site in Soi Ruamrudee with temporary steel barriers. A permanent metal safety fence had not yet been installed, as funding for the structure had still not received final approval.
The move marked the first visible progress since the Supreme Administrative Court issued its final judgment in November 2025 ordering the demolition of the building. The project had been fiercely contested since the mid-2000s.
Planned committee and new demolition contractor
The Consumer Council said the BMA’s roadmap envisaged first setting up a committee to inspect and approve construction materials at the site. A new private contractor would then be selected to carry out the actual demolition.
The previously designated company, Thamlay Thai Thammachat Co Ltd, could no longer operate because it was under court-ordered administration. Securing a new service provider was described as a crucial step before demolition work could begin.
The council stressed it would closely monitor the process and press the city administration to act without further delay. It said enforcing the ruling was essential to protect consumer rights and rebuild public confidence in the justice system.
Delayed pledges from city officials
The Consumer Council noted that it had already held talks in November 2025 with the Bangkok governor and the director of Pathumwan district. In those discussions, the BMA pledged to begin demolition preparations by early December.
However, the original date for fencing off the area was later postponed, with district officials citing the need to revise project timelines. The newly installed temporary barriers were now seen as the first concrete signal that demolition planning was finally under way.
Legal basis: narrow road and faulty permit
The hotel had been built on a road less than ten metres wide, in violation of the Building Control Act. Local residents had been filing objections to the project since 2005, yet the responsible district authorities still granted a construction permit.
In 2012, a lower administrative court ordered the building to be torn down for the first time. The BMA then issued a formal demolition order in 2016 and posted it directly on the structure.
Owner’s lawsuit rejected by top court
Larppratharn Co Ltd, the hotel’s owner, filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the then district director, accusing him of gross negligence over an incorrect certification. The company argued that BMA officials had failed to verify the actual width of the access road in Soi Ruamrudee before approving construction, which ultimately led to the demolition order.
The Supreme Administrative Court rejected the lawsuit in November 2025 and upheld the existing demolition order. The court found that the plaintiffs had been aware of the original order no later than 4 November 2016, when it was publicly posted on the building.
Long wait for enforcement raises broader questions
Public criticism focused on the years-long gap between judicial decisions and their implementation. Commentators framed the case as a test of administrative resolve and judicial credibility in Bangkok’s urban development disputes.
“What is a court ruling worth if its implementation takes a decade?”
said an observer, pointing to concerns over delayed enforcement and possible similar cases that never led to visible consequences.
“This case is more than just a building – it is a test for administration, the judiciary and public trust.”
said another commentator, questioning whether the late action amounted to justice or merely a very delayed admission of state failure.