Govt to promote water transport to solve traffic problems

[Lite Beer]

Govt to promote water transport to solve traffic problems

BANGKOK, 7 March 2015 (NNT) - The government is planning to promote water transport in Bangkok and other provinces as part of its campaign to alleviate traffic problems and create new tourism-related activities.

PM Prayut Chan-ocha, says the government will first launch a campaign to encourage the use of non-powered boats and ferries on waterways, to mitigate traffic congestion on roads. In waterfront areas which have the potential to become tourist spots, floating markets will be introduced to attract visitors. The premier expects that the campaign will take shape within six months.

The Prime Minister also disclosed that the government has successfully opened more than 2,000 community markets and created business opportunities for more than 90,000 operators. The project has so far generated more than 820 million baht in income. Nevertheless, Gen. Prayut confirmed that the government will continue to produce marketing campaigns to create more income sources for farmers and promote Thai agricultural products outside the country.

-- NNT 2015-03-07

[NeverSure]

"The Prime Minister also disclosed that the government has successfully opened more than 2,000 community markets and created business opportunities for more than 90,000 operators. The project has so far generated more than 820 million baht in income."

[ToddinChonburi]

I am standing on the pier waiting for a ride, dam it's hot out. Seems like I am the only one here .

[zaphod reborn]

Just let Bangkok flood. Then, water transport will make total sense.

[Thai at Heart]

Non powder boats?

RoW to work?

[ratcatcher]

Non powder boats?

RoW to work?

Yes, the Prime minister is dreaming of a kinder, gentler, more leisurely Siam while at the same time promoting bullet trains. Hand in hand. Soon there will be a klong near you offering boat transportation to your office or shops.

[BSJ]

Non-powered boats.....which means paddle-o's for hire!

[LuckyLew]

Great ... water ways to ease congestion, then use them to attract tourists, then the waterways are crammed with tourists and then u have canal traffic jams

[maidee]

they can attrack some experienced phuket speedboat drivers

if u are unlucky to fall into the water, that might be the end of you

oh i almost forgot : please charge farangs 10x the thai price ...

just in case

[bangon04]

Great ... water ways to ease congestion, then use them to attract tourists, then the waterways are crammed with tourists and then u have canal traffic jams

It is such a great idea.. open up more floating markets, and then Thais and Chinese tourists will automatically no longer use the canals as open sewers and rubbish dumps. Sweet smelling canals full of happy fish and tourists playfully splashing each other with water as they drift lazily along the beautifully maintained waterways between golden roofed temples and smiling children....

[MESmith]

Great ... water ways to ease congestion, then use them to attract tourists, then the waterways are crammed with tourists and then u have canal traffic jams

It is such a great idea.. open up more floating markets, and then Thais and Chinese tourists will automatically no longer use the canals as open sewers and rubbish dumps. Sweet smelling canals full of happy fish and tourists playfully splashing each other with water as they drift lazily along the beautifully maintained waterways between golden roofed temples and smiling children....

Sounds good to me. "I'm in". But not the water...

[Pib]

"Non-powered" boats work good in river rapids or going over a waterfall...speedy little suckers in those water conditions. It's slowing down the boat to get off where you want to that's the hard part, but I have faith the Thai govt will figure out a way to do it....Thai technology.

[FangFerang]

Road congestion solved by non-powered boats....wow. Someone from the TAT is in Transportation now it seems.

[Chris Lawrence]

This guy is a genius? Day in day out all new ideas?

So the market ideas; are they something that he wants the normal people to get more involved with? Sought of a subtle Pol Pot approach?

The longer the General stays in the position of Prime Minister, with the demands and release of innovative ideas, the more he seems to distance himself from the ability to run a country effectively. I would think there has been a drain on advisers that are capable of putting together programs that can be put in place to stimulate the economy. Just because you don't spend money on the infrastructure needed to run the country means money is really saved. Money is not saved, projects become more expensive or existing infrastructure is run down. Ideas like this are not innovative, enough to solve the traffic problems of Bangkok.

A lot has been talked about infrastructure projects? Nothing seems to be done in putting them in place.

[rametindallas]

the government will first launch a campaign to encourage the use of non-powered boats and ferries on waterways

Non-powered or non-motorized? Non-powered boats would never go anywhere or just drift; even paddle-boats are human powered. Non-motorized doesn't make much more sense as no one would get to work on time because wind is non-existent or unpredictable and human power, such as rowing, paddling, punt-pole, or sweep, though dependable, is very slow. Crossing the Chao Praya River by human power would require one to begin far down stream or far up stream, depending on the tide, to reach a particular destination on the far bank. Until this is explained, the OP makes no sense.

[Strangebrew]

So traffic jam in Klong would it be called a "Clogged Klong" just wondering. Well someone had to say it.