BMA orders 14,000 phone booths junked

Thanatpong Khongsai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Ordering the demolition of 14,000 phone booths whose permits have expired, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said yesterday that this and other measures would have Bangkok looking much more orderly by December 5 this year.

Theerachon yesterday presided over a meeting with the BMA Public Works Department and related officials from 50 district offices to prepare for discussions with infrastructurerelated agencies on March 28. After yesterday's meeting, he said Bangkok had nearly 30,000 phone booths - 9,882 of them authorised and 18,944 unauthorised. Of the unauthorised booths, about 14,000 belong to concessionaire companies whose permits have expired, while about 4,000 belong to companies currently negotiating with the BMA for permits.

The official said he had instructed the BMA's Public Works Department to demolish the 14,000 booths and to work with the BMA's Legal and Litigation Office to determine a standard punishment for the owners of unauthorised phone booths, to be implemented by the 50 district offices. Theerachon said the number of authorised phone booths was sufficient. Some booths didn't have phones in them, and some occupied already toonarrow footpaths, he said, adding that he personally wanted to see the number of booths fall below 9,000.

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-23

Most are on road junctions completely blocking visibility. Bravo. Get rid

Great idea. They obstruct congested footpaths, many have no operational phones, and even kids use mobile phones these days. Good riddance!

Dear BMA, please also consider a cleanup of abandoned derelict cars.

Maybe the phone booths were limiting the free access of the pedestrian on the footpath.

But more likely this is an economic initiative designed to open up more space for the variety of retail and food sellers ...

Plus removing obstacles like this will allow a greater speed for the motorcycle couriers which is a time saving efficiency initiative.

(Almost) Everyone wins ... pity the poor pedestrian.

Thais don't like empty spaces...........someone will jump right on these pitches as soon as they get a chance!!

Call your local BMA pooyai to reserve space for your somtam stand!

Maybe the phone booths were limiting the free access of the pedestrian on the footpath.

But more likely this is an economic initiative designed to open up more space for the variety of retail and food sellers ...

Plus removing obstacles like this will allow a greater speed for the motorcycle couriers which is a time saving efficiency initiative.

(Almost) Everyone wins ... pity the poor pedestrian.

Of course, since they lost chatuchuk, they need to find a way of renting out 15,000 market stall spaces to make up for the loss of income

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

What's the going rate for scrap metal in BKK?.......I can smell an opportunity

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

What's the going rate for scrap metal in BKK?.......I can smell an opportunity

Indeed. 14,000 phone booths to start. Must be some copper wiring there somewhere, plus all the metal. Then all that superfluous wiring. ..more copper..more scrap. Could be a nice little earner.

There are always plenty of men/women coming on TV asking how they can earn money in Thailand. Well there they go. They can make Bangkok orderly AND get baht for scrap. They'll have to risk not having the work permit of course.

And the scrap metal mafiosi

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

What's the going rate for scrap metal in BKK?.......I can smell an opportunity

Indeed. 14,000 phone booths to start. Must be some copper wiring there somewhere, plus all the metal. Then all that superfluous wiring. ..more copper..more scrap. Could be a nice little earner.

There are always plenty of men/women coming on TV asking how they can earn money in Thailand. Well there they go. They can make Bangkok orderly AND get baht for scrap. They'll have to risk not having the work permit of course.

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

What's the going rate for scrap metal in BKK?.......I can smell an opportunity

Indeed. 14,000 phone booths to start. Must be some copper wiring there somewhere, plus all the metal. Then all that superfluous wiring. ..more copper..more scrap. Could be a nice little earner.

There are always plenty of men/women coming on TV asking how they can earn money in Thailand. Well there they go. They can make Bangkok orderly AND get baht for scrap. They'll have to risk not having the work permit of course.

I've got some dodgy pals........lets talk about it, see if we can do a deal

Have you ever seen the inside of a scrap metal compactor?

the demolition of 14,000 phone booths

oh great.... just what is Superman supposed to do now?

.

the demolition of 14,000 phone booths

oh great.... just what is Superman supposed to do now?

.

the demolition of 14,000 phone booths

oh great.... just what is Superman supposed to do now?

.

use his iphone?

Have you ever seen the inside of a scrap metal compactor?

Have you ever seen the inside of a scrap metal compactor?

Well if you get trapped in one of them phone booths when they pick em up for scrapping you will...

Good to get the electrical wires under ground in time for this years flooding ... should go a long way in helping with the population density problem.

the demolition of 14,000 phone booths

oh great.... just what is Superman supposed to do now?

.

That superman is highly suspicious..........his pants are too tight and he's always cross dressing.........he'll fit right in in Thailand though

Thais don't like empty spaces...........someone will jump right on these pitches as soon as they get a chance!!

How right you are. Witness all the aisles in shopping centres which start as walking areas, in the architect's plan, but then get progressively blocked by stalls, promotions and god knows what. The concept of easy pedestrian access does not exist; any space must to be occupied by an obstacle!

In England, living in the countryside, until recently my electricity traveled on overhead wires, so I sometimes had power cuts when a tree was blown over in a gale. Then they put the cables underground, now I get power cuts every time there is a heavy downpour of rain. Win a few, lose a few.

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

I cannot see which year is quoted. Just 5th December, which is a "Auspicious day" every year. (BTS, MRT, as example, started on 5th December)

(Rather like Council projects the in UK uses the tax year end, 4 APR, or start, as that is when budgets end or new ones start)

Edited March 23, 201214 yr by grahamhc

the demolition of 14,000 phone booths

oh great.... just what is Superman supposed to do now?

.

Superman will just to stay dressed as Chalerm then. I suppose he could just solve the phone box problem in his favourite style by blowing them away.

Same same in Pattaya.

Great idea. They obstruct congested footpaths, many have no operational phones, and even kids use mobile phones these days. Good riddance!

Theerachon said the March 28 meeting would assign a multipleparty committee to oversee infrastructure and discuss such topics as repairs to lampposts; the installation of additional CCTV cameras at stadiums, mosques and public spaces; and putting electrical wires underground. If the joint projects ran smoothly, Bangkok would be more orderly by December 5, he said.

It would be great to see some wiring disappear underground. Especially the great massed coils of a hundred different wires they like to have resting on the metal railings of pedestrian bridges.

However, having Bangkok looking more orderly by December 5 seems VERY optimistic.

December 5 ..... 2026

Indeed. 14,000 phone booths to start. Must be some copper wiring there somewhere, plus all the metal. Then all that superfluous wiring. ..more copper..more scrap. Could be a nice little earner.

There are always plenty of men/women coming on TV asking how they can earn money in Thailand. Well there they go. They can make Bangkok orderly AND get baht for scrap. They'll have to risk not having the work permit of course.

I've got some dodgy pals........lets talk about it, see if we can do a deal

We can manage them. get an entire crew going.

Have you ever seen the inside of a scrap metal compactor?

No. That's why Blether and I will stay in the management role. The crew can send us some pics via their phones when they get to find out what it looks like.

Why not paint them red and sell em on Ebay?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/k6-red-telephone-box-/300680757850?pt=UK_Collectables_RadioTelevision_Telephony_SM&hash=item4601f8425a

Dec. 5th is the Kings birthday as most people on here know. Just saying