City Hall promises to decide on promenade in 5 more months
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) insisted yesterday that it will spend five more months gathering public opinions before making a final decision on the controversial Chao Phraya Riverside promenade.
Deputy Bangkok governor Sakchai Boonma said City Hall is open to suggestions from all stakeholders in the 8.3-billion-baht scheme, which has drawn opposition since it was proposed several years ago.
He was speaking at a meeting the BMA held to discuss the project. However, no representatives from the River Assembly or the Friends of the River network, which comprises 35 groups of professionals from various fields, showed up.
On Dec 20 the groups handed a letter to the city governor and director of the BMA’s Public Works Department asking City Hall to scrap the project before holding talks on how to approach the scheme.
Mr Sakchai said it was regrettable that the meeting drew fewer people than expected, but said the BMA will spend the next five months gathering opinions before taking further steps.
“Several groups disagree with the scheme, especially the design of the walkway along the river which looks like a concrete road. The design has been revised but it may not be appropriate. The BMA is open to suggestions,” Mr
Sakchai said.
Endorsed by the cabinet on Dec 9, 2014, the scheme was originally designed to stretch 7km on both sides of the river — with the area from the Rama VII Bridge to Pin Klao Bridge being transformed into a mix of walkways and bicycle lanes.
The BMA later revised the plan, taking out sections that passed through old town quarters as suggested by the National Committee on the Conservation of Rattanakosin and Old Town Conservation.
Critics, however, said the scheme will pose a risk to the environment, river ecology, history, riverside culture and water transport and have called on the Administrative Court to intervene.