BANGKOK
BMA scraps Sanam Luang underground car park plan
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has scrapped its plan to build an underground car park at Sanam Luang due to disagreement from the Rattanakosin Island Development Committee.

Wanchai Thanomsak, director of the BMA’s city planning department said yesterday that therefore, the city was looking at other possible locations, such as Romaneenart Park and Ratchadamnoen Nok Road.

The committee was concerned that project construction activities like drilling could effect nearby historical sites such as the Royal Palace and Wat Phra Kaew as well as antiquities under and nearby this famous field.

In comparison, he said, the Romaneenart Park, was located on hard soil and did not have many historical sites nearby, and the Ratchadamnoen Nok Road, which is one of the main roads to the Rattanakosin Island. The Romaneenart Park could be excavated for three or four levels underground to provide parking for up to 1,200 cars and people could conveniently access the nearby soon-to-be-completed Wang Burapha subway station, he added.

Wanchai also said the Crown Property Bureau had started cancelling lease/rent contracts for buildings along both sides of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, which should be completed by next year, before renovating and turning them into a Chakri Dynasty Building. The new building, scheduled for opening in 2017, would feature the achievements of King Rama I to King Rama IX, he said. This would be in line with the city's plan to turn the Government's Lottery Office building on the road to be turned into a building in honour of His Majesty the King, he added.

The committee also suggested that the stairs leading to the orange subway line in the Democracy Monument area be placed behind buildings as the original plan of having the stairs emerge at the monument would make the area less beautiful and would narrow the footpaths, he added

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/BMA-scraps-Sanam-Luang-underground-car-park-plan-30273283.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-19

Yesterday it was a go.. In the news etc. Today it's scrapped!!!

Pretty much all of the land there is own by the Crown Property Bureau, perhaps they should ask the CPB before making any announcements or waste money on studies.