Government Approves Suvarnabhumi City

[george]

Government approves Suvarnabhumi City

BANGKOK: -- The Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved in principle a draft law proposed by the Interior Ministry to establish areas around the new Bangkok international airport as a special administrative zone named Maha Nakhon Suvarnabhumi, Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said.

Following the cabinet approval, the Maha Nakhon Suvarnbhumi bill will proceed to the Office of the Council of State for its scrutiny, before being given to the new government.

If reaffirmed by the new government, the bill would be brought to the parliament's scrutiny process, he said.

Dr. Surapong said the establishment of the new city is to support development of infrastructure, administer and manage the utilities of facilities and revenue collection, as well as environmental management to fulfil the goal of making the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport a regional aviation hub.

According to the bill, the new city, intended as the 77th province of Thailand, will cover areas around the new airport, including Lat Krabang and Prawet Districts of Bangkok, as well as annex Bang Phli and Bang Sao Thong Districts of Samut

Prakan Province, making up an estimated total of 522 square kilometers or 3.6 rais of land area in the new province.

Interior Minister Air Chief Marshal Kongsak Wanthana said Maha Nakhon Suvarnabhumi would hold a status of special administrative zone similar to that enjoyed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Admininistration (BMA), the capital city.

Agencies concerned have outlined the city planning with an emphasis on making its look as a style compatible to the new airport architecture, especially regarding its beauty and exotic landscape.

The new city would have full facilities for recreation and shopping to attract tourists to stop by when they arrive at the new airport, he said.

-- TNA 2006-06-20

[stumonster]

revenue collection

ole mr't' is still quite sure he will be prime minister for years to come - I wonder if he has chosen a site for his casino yet?

[Old Man River]

revenue collection

ole mr't' is still quite sure he will be prime minister for years to come - I wonder if he has chosen a site for his casino yet?

This has nothing to do with whether Dr. Thaksin remains as PM or not. He will control this economic zone until he decides someone else should do it. While described as the 77th province of Thailand (actually, Los Angeles already holds this status), it will be run separately from the rest of the country. This zone will be governed similar to Singapore, which to date, does not have a casino.

[Maejo Man]

ole mr't' is still quite sure he will be prime minister for years to come - I wonder if he has chosen a site for his casino yet?

This zone will be governed similar to Singapore, which to date, does not have a casino.

It's on it's way though and Thailand won't be far behind if it wants to stay in the race!

SINGAPORE (AP) - Las Vegas Sands Corp., owner of The Venetian in Nevada, won a hotly contested license Friday to build Singapore's first casino, which could be the world's costliest casino resort project by the time it opens in 2009.

[Rinrada]

And they could have late night pubs...just like wot we already got in Theperak....but hey maybe we are already IN the Special Developement Area Zone and nobody ever told us......typical ...dont tell us nuffing......

[george]

77TH PROVINCE

Opposition grows to Suvarnabhumi city

Samut Prakan residents, BMA against plan,which could become a 'political nightmare'

BANGKOK: -- The government's ambitious project to set up a 77th province around the new airport has hit further strong opposition - from local residents, their political representatives, Bangkok administrators, and the Democrats.

But that has been the story since the day Cabinet gave the controversial plan the go ahead.

Alongkorn Polabutr, the Democrat Party's deputy leader, said yesterday subsequent projects to establish residential areas around Suvarnabhumi ran against international principles in urban development.

The airport and residential estates would occupy a vast space long used as a catchment basin for Bangkok during flood seasons.

Alongkorn called on the government to review the Cabinet decision on Tuesday to approve a draft bill establishing the new special administrative zone, and instead designate a special area to accommodate the airport.

"New airports worldwide are now built far away from populated areas. In some places buffer zones of five kilometres are built to keep the distance even further," he said.

Under the draft bill, the new metropolitan area will cover 521.7 square kilometres drawn from 176 sq km belonging to the two Bangkok districts of Lat Krabang and Prawet, and 345 sq km from Bang Phli district and Bang Sao Thong subdistrict in Samut Prakan.

Caretaker Senator Charoon Youngprapakorn from Samut Prakan said his constituents were unhappy with the scheme.

"The airport is our pride, but now the government wants to run it alone. It's now like a time-bomb waiting to explode if the government still goes ahead with its plan without asking for our approval," he said.

Assoc Prof Thanes Jaroenmuang, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University, said the four districts need not be grouped in the metropolitan area just to serve the purpose of efficiently operating an airport.

Including the four districts would create political nightmares if residents opposed it, he said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Admin-istration (BMA) also disagreed with assigning two Bangkok districts to be supervised by Suvarnabhumi Metropolitan, saying the government was proceeding with the project without seeking input from the BMA.

Deputy city clerk Phichai Chaiyaphojphanich said Bangkok would become more prone to flooding after the catchment basin was used by the new city.

The BMA would also stand to lose some Bt300 million in taxes collected from residents and businesses in the two districts.

Phatthanaphong Jongrakdee, mayor of Bang Phli town, said a plan under the scheme to have the zone governed by a state-appointed commission was aimed at monopolising administrative power and was not fair to residents in the four districts, who were entitled to have a say in managing their affairs.

Somkhid Ruengaram, chairman of the Samut Prakan Chamber of Commerce, said Samut Prakan and its people had been overlooked despite the fact the province, which is packed with industrial estates, contributes huge revenues for the entire country each year.

A meeting of local administrative bodies will be held in Samut Prakan tomorrow to discuss the matter.

The session is expected to reach a conclusion that would allow for legal amendments to alter certain projects under the metropolitan scheme before it is formally implemented over the next few years.

--The Nation 2006-06-22

[penzman]

Is this "caretaker" government actually allowed by law to make so many plans and decisions?

[stumonster]

it needs to be understood - he is not smart , just greedy.

[farangsay]

Government approves Suvarnabhumi City

According to the bill, the new city, intended as the 77th province of Thailand, will cover areas around the new airport, including Lat Krabang and Prawet Districts of Bangkok, as well as annex Bang Phli and Bang Sao Thong Districts of Samut

Prakan Province, making up an estimated total of 522 square kilometers or 3.6 rais of land area in the new province.

How soon before the separatist movement starts ? Have they thought of this ?

[jdinasia]

hmmm ALL of Prawet? that'll be a stretch ....

[Maejo Man]

77TH PROVINCE

Opposition grows to Suvarnabhumi city

Samut Prakan residents, BMA against plan,which could become a 'political nightmare'

The airport and residential estates would occupy a vast space long used as a catchment basin for Bangkok during flood seasons.

--The Nation 2006-06-22

Now it's ecological suicide as well as rank stupidity

[Cheeky Farang]

Did a search on Google, and this what came up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOGLE Web Images Groups News Froogle more »

Suvarnabhumi Airport - www.suvarnabhumiairport.com

This Account Has Been Suspended ...www.suvarnabhumiairport.com http://www.siaminterhost.com

Please contact the billing/support department as soon as possible.

www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/ - 5k - Cached - Similar pages

[Payboy]

According to the bill, the new city, intended as the 77th province of Thailand, will cover areas around the new airport, including Lat Krabang and Prawet Districts of Bangkok, as well as annex Bang Phli and Bang Sao Thong Districts of Samut Prakan Province, making up an estimated total of 522 square kilometers or 3.6 rais of land area in the new province.

[Old Man River]

it needs to be understood - he is not smart , just greedy.

It needs to be understood - he is smart and greedy. If he was not smart he could not have amassed a huge fortune and become Prime Minister. It wasn't by dumb luck, I can assure you.

[Plus]

If he was smart he wouldn't have sold Shin to Singapore and ruined his perfect little dictator's life.

How can a caretaker government whose status is in limbo (thanks to Thaksin's earlier resignation that is questioned in courts) carve out parts of Thailand into fancy new provinces?

The whole idea is strange, it goes against all modern city planning. On the other hand, I wish they relocated all noise loving Thais there ASAP so we can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in Bangkok.

[ratcatcher]

If he was smart he wouldn't have sold Shin to Singapore and ruined his perfect little dictator's life.

How can a caretaker government whose status is in limbo (thanks to Thaksin's earlier resignation that is questioned in courts) carve out parts of Thailand into fancy new provinces?

The whole idea is strange, it goes against all modern city planning. On the other hand, I wish they relocated all noise loving Thais there ASAP so we can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in Bangkok.

I think he was samart to sell Shin to Temasek. Look at what's happening now, the wheels are starting to come off already. iTV has major problems ahead with fees and content %ages etc as well as AIS with coverage and service problems.

How he can be a "caretaker" Prime minister and try and pass legislation is quite beyond me as well ,but then as we all know he does what he wants and no-one dares say anything.

Only in Thailand.

No, Thaksin is very astute, very greedy AND very dangerous. It's the last one that worries me.

[veteran]

TIT:

[ROFL]

. While described as the 77th province of Thailand (actually, Los Angeles already holds this status).

This is going to confuse some Thais who Ive told LA is considered the 77th province of Thailand.

Does it now become the 78th? or 77.1

[cclub75]

This Account Has Been Suspended ...www.suvarnabhumiairport.com[/color] [/b] department as soon as possible.

No, you have to look the register for the domain name.

It's up and running (expires 2007)...

Now if you ask why... 3 month before the "official opening on the head of my mother of the new aiport" they still don't have a proper website on this domain name... well I would like to answer you : that's a good question.

Registrant:

Airports of Thailand Public Co., Ltd.

Watcharakorn Buddhawanna

99 Mu 10 , Bangna-trad Hwy., Km.15

Rachathewa, Bangphli

Samutprakarn, Samutprakarn 10540

TH

+662.7230000 (FAX) +662.7230010

[email protected]

Administrative Contact:

Airports of Thailand Public Co.,Ltd.

Watcharakorn Buddhawanna

99 Mu 10, Bangna-trad Hwy., Km.15

Rachathewa, Bangphli

Samutprakarn, Samutprakarn 10540

TH

+66.66027230000 (FAX) +66.66027230010

[email protected]

Technical Contact:

Airports of Thailand Public Co.,Ltd.

Watcharakorn Buddhawanna

99 Mu 10, Bangna-trad Hwy., Km.15

Rachathewa, Bangphli

Samutprakarn, Samutprakarn 10540

TH

+66.66027230000 (FAX) +66.66027230010

[email protected]

Billing Contact

Airports of Thailand Public Co.,Ltd.

Watcharakorn Buddhawanna

99 Mu 10, Bangna-trad Hwy., Km.15

Rachathewa, Bangphli

Samutprakarn, Samutprakarn 10540

TH

+66.66027230000 (FAX) +66.66027230010

[email protected]

Registrar..: gkg.net (http://register.gkg.net/)

Domain Name: SUVARNABHUMIAIRPORT.COM

Created on..............: 30-OCT-2000

Expires on..............: 30-OCT-2007

[Maejo Man]

Why does this not surprise me any more?

The proposed city plan has attracted criticism, however, from some developers and opposition politicians, who question the necessity of setting up a new province specifically to service the new airport.

The greatest beneficiaries would likely be well-connected developers who have purchased large land banks.

Leading developers, including Land & Houses, Quality Houses, SC Asset, LPN Development and Property Perfect have all accumulated land in the area over the past several years, as have prominent business families closely connected with the Thai Rak Thai party such as the Jungrungreangkit and Mahagitsiri families.

Property values along Bang Na-Trat Road have also risen sharply over the past few years on speculation of future growth.

bangkok post today

[penzman]

If he was smart he wouldn't have sold Shin to Singapore and ruined his perfect little dictator's life.

How can a caretaker government whose status is in limbo (thanks to Thaksin's earlier resignation that is questioned in courts) carve out parts of Thailand into fancy new provinces?

The whole idea is strange, it goes against all modern city planning. On the other hand, I wish they relocated all noise loving Thais there ASAP so we can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in Bangkok.

From the drawings and plans I've seen of this city(shown on tv), it sure isn't for your average Thai citizen, only for the rich. Why not go for a colony on the moon while they're at it?

[Heng]

The greatest beneficiaries would likely be well-connected developers who have purchased large land banks.

Along with all of the regular everyday folks and families who already own land/businesses/homes in Suvarnabhumi province ...who will be benefitting anyway, no matter what you call the area, but now likely even more so.

[Old Man River]

The greatest beneficiaries would likely be well-connected developers who have purchased large land banks.

Along with all of the regular everyday folks and families who already own land/businesses/homes in Suvarnabhumi province ...who will be benefitting anyway, no matter what you call the area, but now likely even more so.

Heng, thanks for pointing this out as it seemed self serving for me to do so. When our time comes, my child will be inheriting some very valuable property. Yes, I complained to my wife when she bought it, but as usual, she was right.

[Heng]

The greatest beneficiaries would likely be well-connected developers who have purchased large land banks.

Along with all of the regular everyday folks and families who already own land/businesses/homes in Suvarnabhumi province ...who will be benefitting anyway, no matter what you call the area, but now likely even more so.

Heng, thanks for pointing this out as it seemed self serving for me to do so. When our time comes, my child will be inheriting some very valuable property. Yes, I complained to my wife when she bought it, but as usual, she was right.

No worries. And the OP was of course right, those who are well connected will be benefitting the most (as it the status quo here, hardly any kind of newsflash), but there are plenty of others who will benefit as well. There are plenty of unconnected developers, plenty whose families have simply been here forever, and then the multitudes who have saved and invested luckily and/or wisely (as your family apparently has). It sounds much less dramatic when you include all these latter folks in the mix.

[sriracha john]

UPDATE.... Good-bye Suvarnabhumi City

Cabinet cancels Suvarnabhumi metropolis project

Cabinet decides to shelve the previous government’s ambitious plan to develop a megacity near the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The cabinet yesterday accepted the Interior Ministry's request to withdraw the draft bill on the proposed establishment of a special administrative zone around Suvarnabhumi airport from scrutiny by the Council of State. The move comes after the Thaksin government-initiated project was blasted in a series of opinion polls conducted by the ministry for not taking local views into account. Deputy government spokeswoman Netpreeya Chumchaiyo said the request was accepted after the ministry forwarded the findings and recommendations of a series of public surveys on the draft bill. The ministry started making the surveys soon after the cabinet of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra approved the project on June 20 last year.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=117866

[Old Man River]

UPDATE.... Good-bye Suvarnabhumi City

Cabinet cancels Suvarnabhumi metropolis project

Cabinet decides to shelve the previous government’s ambitious plan to develop a megacity near the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The cabinet yesterday accepted the Interior Ministry's request to withdraw the draft bill on the proposed establishment of a special administrative zone around Suvarnabhumi airport from scrutiny by the Council of State. The move comes after the Thaksin government-initiated project was blasted in a series of opinion polls conducted by the ministry for not taking local views into account. Deputy government spokeswoman Netpreeya Chumchaiyo said the request was accepted after the ministry forwarded the findings and recommendations of a series of public surveys on the draft bill. The ministry started making the surveys soon after the cabinet of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra approved the project on June 20 last year.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=117866

Those of us living in the area are breathing a huge sigh of relief. Just imagine how high our taxes would have been to repair the airport.