Wide Phuket Support For Patong Cable Burying Project

[webfact]

Wide Phuket support for Patong cable burying project
Naraporn Tuarob


Ugly tangles of power and telephone cables are a common sight all over Thailand.

PHUKET: -- A public hearing on Monday (June 3) to get local views about a long-awaited plan to bury the power cables running along Patong’s sea front road, Thaweewong Rd, met with general approval.

The only worries aired were about the construction phase and whether this would affect traffic and local shops and vendors.

Surapol Buakaew, Director of Servicing Unit of Patong Municipality told The Phuket News today (June 5) that this plan was initiated by the [Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA)] and Patong Municipality under a resolution passed in 2003 by the Cabinet under [then-PM] Thaksin [shinawatra] that approved, in part, a PEA budget of B90 million for the project.

“However, the cost of the construction was the responsibility of the municipality.

“The estimated total budget is around B203 million, so we need to find B113 million. We have applied for this but have yet to receive approval.”

He said the plan will cover the full stretch from the bridge over Klong Pak Bang [at the south end] to Kalim beach – a total of 3.56 kilometres – and is expected to take about a year to complete.

“Right now we don’t have enough funds, so we may have to ask the government to include it in the 2014 budget [starting October 1 this year]. If it is approved we can start this year.”

At the meeting, Veeravich Kruesombat, President of the Patong Entertainment Entrepreneurs expressed his concerns about disruption from the work. “Patong already has a traffic problem, so the construction must be certain, fast and concise. But I support the idea because it will create better scenery for Patong.”

Rachin Tongmakkul, head of the Patong Beach Hotels Association, said, “I agree with this project but I am worried about the traffic congestion it may cause and the safety of road users during construction period.”

When asked about these comments and other reservations expressed during the hearing, Mr Surapol said, “There were concerns about the traffic during the construction period. That is a problem and we have to find the most suitable way to minimise congestion.

“But overall, most of the people who came on that day seemed to agree with the idea since it helps to beautify Patong.

“One thing I can say for sure is that during the construction, there will be no effect on the entrepreneurs along the road and the electricity supply will be as normal.”

Prajied Aksornthammakul, Chief of the Provincial Office told The Phuket News after the meeting, “I think we should have underground cables because this is a tourist spot and we have to adjust the townscape, especially along the beach road.

“We have underground power cables in Karon and Phuket Town, so there is no reason it should not be spread to other parts of the province.

“But we do have to find a way to minimise the impact on locals during the construction period.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/wide-phuket-support-for-patong-cable-burying-project-39920.php


-- Phuket News 2013-06-05

[JetsetBkk]

Get ready for power cuts, Internet cuts, no land lines, no traffic lights, no shops open and traffic jams.

Plan to start at the beginning of the low season, but delay it by 6 months because of lack of funds.

[winstonc]

been saying it for 3 years am i the only person who notices these eyesores,,theres an old saying if theres a will theres a way,,,,,,,make your own minds up people,,,,

Edited June 5, 2013 by winstonc

[bunta71]

Work at night. Seems to work for most places.... I worked heavy construction and did many jobs at night when traffic was a concern.

Edited June 5, 2013 by bunta71

[Shot]

[Deepsearon]

The cost can most certainly be reduced if you use the best equipment http://www.dwaus.com.au/ditch-witch-trenchless.htm

[newermonkey]

If the road has a traffic problem and the project has a money problem solve both in one hit...

Charge traffic for using the road until the funds are sufficient ...

The BRAINS at PEA should have thought of this already, not?

[madmitch]

A similar project along Karon Beach Road took an age to complete. They would complete one part of the road then no work would be done for the next few weeks, then after all the cables were underground they had to wait for another bid to see who got the job of resurfacing the road.

So, expect similar in Patong, which, IMHO, is such a mess anyway with all the haphazard construction plus rental cars and tuk tuks that I doubt anyone will notice the difference.

[andreandre]

If the road has a traffic problem and the project has a money problem solve both in one hit...

Charge traffic for using the road until the funds are sufficient ...

The BRAINS at PEA should have thought of this already, not?

"long-awaited plan to bury the power cables running along Patong’s sea front road, Thaweewong Rd, "

The project is about putting unsightly cables underground, not about ''a traffic problem''

A ''traffic problem ''will for sure come about as a result of the project...but at present is not so [apart from parking ,taxiis,tuk-tuks and rentals takeover of all spare spaces..which is another seperate problem altogether]

[newermonkey]

If the road has a traffic problem and the project has a money problem solve both in one hit...

Charge traffic for using the road until the funds are sufficient ...

The BRAINS at PEA should have thought of this already, not?

"long-awaited plan to bury the power cables running along Patong’s sea front road, Thaweewong Rd, "

The project is about putting unsightly cables underground, not about ''a traffic problem''

A ''traffic problem ''will for sure come about as a result of the project...but at present is not so [apart from parking ,taxiis,tuk-tuks and rentals takeover of all spare spaces..which is another seperate problem altogether]

You don't understand what I was saying !

Of course there will be a traffic problem if they do the project but I am saying charge the motorists "now" to raise the funds.

[moonbarman]

You won't find me walking down beach road when it rains thats for sure, will be electrocutions left right and centre!!!!