BMA mulls river promenade uni study

Panel calls for project bidding to be scrapped

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is considering hiring a university to conduct a feasibility study for the Chao Phraya promenade project, or the socalled New Landmark of Thailand.

The 14-billion-baht promenade will span seven kilometres on both sides of the river between the Rama VII and Pin Klao bridges.

Pinit Lertudomtana, deputy chief of the BMA’s Department of Public Works, who is also the chairman of the panel responsible for awarding bidding contract for the project, said yesterday the panel had proposed the cancellation of the bid to BMA executives.

The panel had also proposed a new plan of hiring an educational institute to act as an adviser for the project and conduct a feasibility study for it instead of a contractor, he added.

Earlier, two of the three contractors that had expressed an interest in bidding for the rights to the feasibility study had withdrawn from the race before the bidding even started. As only one bid has been submitted, the panel was forced to propose the cancellation to BMA executives.

The move came after professional architect networks led by the Council of Architects of Thailand (CAT) yesterday called on the BMA to revise a terms of reference (TOR) document that specifies hiring a consultant firm to work on the study and design of the project.

CAT president Jetkamjorn Phromyothee, who led a meeting yesterday, said the networks do not oppose the plan but they want every step of the design work to be carried out in compliance with acceptable standards to ensure safety.

He was speaking yesterday at the meeting attended by architects and academics from the Association of Siamese Architects under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, the Thai Urban Designers Association, the Thai Association of Landscape Architects, and the Thailand Interior Designers Association.

Others present were the Council of Deans of Architecture Schools of Thailand and Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning Department.

Mr Jetkhamjorn said the TOR document is designed for road construction rather than the city’s public spaces.

The development of the Chao Phraya promenade requires architectural experts and engineers with expertise in dam and water management, he added.

Mr Jetkhamjorn is calling on the government and the BMA, which oversee the project’s construction, to allow for experts’ contributions.

The networks had submitted advice on study and design work to the BMA for consideration, but the agency seemed to disregard them, he added.

Pichai Wongwaisayawan, president of the Association of Siamese Architects, said the networks had agreed to propose three revisions to the TOR.

In response to the experts’ advice, Mr Pinit said yesterday his subordinates had sought help from Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of architecture.