BMA set to clear unpermitted signs off Bangkok streets

BANGKOK, 20 September 2014 (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is poised to dismantle all prohibited signboards on footpaths throughout the capital this Monday, including political banners, as part of a campaign to reorganize the city.

At a recent meeting of BMA executives, municipal staff and district officials, all responsible were instructed to conduct an inspection on street stalls and to follow up on the maintenance of cleanliness in public areas under their supervision on September 22. On the same day, all signs littering the sidewalks, such as unauthorized or improperly installed advertisements as well as political posters, will be torn down by the city officials.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra stated that the measure is in compliance with the policy given by the Prime Minister and the Chief of the National Council for Peace and Order. In order to ensure that the same standard is applied, the Governor insisted that any outdated banners belonging to him or the BMA will be removed as well. He also assigned the BMA Permanent Secretary to set up a committee to draw up more concrete regulations for all sides to follow when putting up their street signs in the future.

Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol Gen Assawin Kwanmuang threatened that if any prohibited signs are still visible on the streets after Monday, the district chief, municipal director and head of the environmental unit overseeing the area will be held accountable and disciplinary action will be taken.

-- NNT 2014-09-20

A sign of the times.

"...set up a committee to draw up more concrete regulations for all sides (sidewalks?)".

Now, there's an idea. Some regulations on concrete, seeing as contractors usually end up mixing poor quality cement leaving some concrete road and sidewalk surfaces broken and rough.

If you haven't seen some poor quality concrete work in Thailand, you haven't been here more than two hours.

"Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol Gen Assawin Kwanmuang threatened that if any prohibited signs are still visible on the streets after Monday, the district chief, municipal director and head of the environmental unit overseeing the area will be held accountable and disciplinary action will be taken."

... and disciplinary action will be taken...

They will be promoted to the department of inactive posts? Gonna need a big building then.

"Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol Gen Assawin Kwanmuang threatened that if any prohibited signs are still visible on the streets after Monday, the district chief, municipal director and head of the environmental unit overseeing the area will be held accountable and disciplinary action will be taken."

... and disciplinary action will be taken...

They will be promoted to the department of inactive posts? Gonna need a big building then.

i wonder what the nationwide total for inactive post holders is ?

Maybe better not to know.

A nation of concrete skimmers

A sign of the times.

"...set up a committee to draw up more concrete regulations for all sides (sidewalks?)".

Now, there's an idea. Some regulations on concrete, seeing as contractors usually end up mixing poor quality cement leaving some concrete road and sidewalk surfaces broken and rough.

If you haven't seen some poor quality concrete work in Thailand, you haven't been here more than two hours.

I hope this includes the signs with wheels that business owners wheel out and block the sidewalk, then never pull them in.

disciplinary action - punishment is the only thing business owners and politicians really understand. They have no respect for the law and regulations designed to make a better community, only profit and punishment. When the punishment is greater than the profit then change will occur.

1. Now settle down. This is a great idea, and doesn't matter if it doesn't work. It's the thought that counts. Like democracy. or any of those "merely intellectual" ideas.

LIving in Bangkok I have no doubt something needs to be done, but to suggest that all can be done in a single Monday and even threaten workers if it's not, seems to be a bit absurd.

Plan for two months with weekly reports would seem a more sensible approach, but then TiT

Gee, what else is there to clean-up? The sidewalk tiles for the blind on Sukhumvit leading to nowhere, the scattered vendors blocking sidewalks and causing bottlenecks, electrical wires hanging everywhere like wild vines especially on pedestrian bridges, motorcycle taxis riding on the sidewalks in opposite direction, or how about bus stops where buses and taxis stop two lanes from the curb? Here's a good one: creating a single romanization structure for Thai words or names spelled in English for maps and street signs?

The people who put us those unlawful street signs are lick cockroaches, as soon as the old signs

are down, almost over night new one will be put up, the only way to deter those cockroaches is to

penalize them heavily for every sign and the people they're trying to sell/promote on those signs...

While they're at it, remove those bloody telephone boxes placed dead centre of the narrow pavements AND fine the idle bastards parking bikes and cars on them too, necessitating pedestrians to walk out into traffic to pass

While they're at it, remove those bloody telephone boxes placed dead centre of the narrow pavements AND fine the idle bastards parking bikes and cars on them too, necessitating pedestrians to walk out into traffic to pass

And I know of one police box that blocks the pavement and pedestrian crossing in Pattaya. There's another pedestrian crossing blocked by a land phone junction box on the pavement. No wonder they never get used.

Gone now but there was a huge political sign at a four way road junction that completely blocked the view if you were turning left. So many accidents with motorcycles coming up the wrong side to turn right.

I've also seen coffee shops with signs outside saying 'parking on pavement for customers only'.

I wish the best to the BMA. It is long overdue and could set a good example for other cities to follow.

Edited for grammar.

The people who put us those unlawful street signs are lick cockroaches, as soon as the old signs

are down, almost over night new one will be put up, the only way to deter those cockroaches is to

penalize them heavily for every sign and the people they're trying to sell/promote on those signs...

Reading your post I reckon Tony Montana is the bloke for the job ezzra mate!

We must be talking about hundreds of thousands signs and billboards. They are everywhere.

I walked last night down Phra Ram 9 from the MRT to a condo where I am staying and was amazed to see that the plethora of signboards and food carts usually forcing me to walk in the road had all been removed, not only from the road edges but also the central island under the flyover. It made it almost pleasant to walk there. If they could just reinstate some dropped kerbs and sort out somewhere safe to cross the road both in Phra Ram 9 and at its junction with Ratchada, then I would be ecstatic. Much better for wheelchairs and pushchairs as well.

Thank you to the BMA and the NCPO for some positive action to look after pedestrians as well as drivers. Keep it up!