Pornpetch said he was not satisfied with the progress of the project, which is currently only 24 per cent complete.

He has instructed the Secretariat of the House of Representatives to expedite the transfer of two plots of land, one at Yothinburana School and a community near the Defence Ministry, to allow the work to proceed.

Officials in charge of land relocation said they would hand over the land by the end of October.

Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction originally pushed back the completion date by 278 days, which is due on December 15. It has 125 days left to complete the project, but as of August 12 only 24 per cent of the construction was complete.

The company has asked for 611 more days to complete the project.

But consultants for the government said it should be allowed an extension of only 421 days. Officials in charge plan to seek approval from House of Representatives |secretary-general Saithip Chao-valitthavhil for an extension of 421 days.