Bangkok to be `super city'

BANGKOK: The government wants to make Bangkok an Asian ``super city'' with plans to promote a better quality of life, a cleaner environment and smoother traffic.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, Thai Rak Thai deputy leader, said Bangkok would emerge as the region's economic and cultural centre.

Up to 100 billion baht baht would be invested in a mass transit system with a network of buses, electric trains and a subway system.

Traffic would be a major policy platform for Thai Rak Thai in the elections for city governor this year. The government also wanted to improve the quality of life with its social order campaign and war on drugs.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said a project proposal for a 10 billion baht knowledge development centre would go to the cabinet on Jan 13.

It would include a fashion design centre at the Amarin Plaza building and new library at Uthen Thawai Technical College and a live science and knowledge museum.

--Bangkok Post 2004-01-05

"knowledge museum" sounds very intesting to me!

Eventhough I study museum studies, I hardly go to museum in Thailand. We have a excellent art collections but we need a better way to communicate though collections. Museums and cultural center play importance role in social development in many countries but Thailand. Sinagapore had lunched the renaissance project in 2000 to seek and identify for their culture.Government spent alot of money in cultural sector and it was very successul. People have an alternative way to spend their weekend with family not shopping mall but opera and theater!!

Up to 100 billion baht baht would be invested in a mass transit system with a network of buses, electric trains and a subway system.

Bangkok should invest in electric buses or hybrid buses. That would save money, reduce noise and clean up the air quite a bit.

I wonder which members of Thaksin's family own Amarin Plaza and Uthen Thawai Technical College?