Bang Yai - Kanchanaburi Motorway faces opposition due to land expropriations

BANGKOK, 7 April 2016 (NNT) - The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) said the government should do more to win public support for the construction of the Bang Yai – Kanchanaburi Motorway.

TDRI Director Sumet Ongkittikul said many people have begun to express their opposition to the motorway's construction stemming from unresolved issues of land expropriation.

The TDRI Director urged the government to pay more attention to those affected by the construction. Mr. Sumet said the government should provide these people with suitable compensation or properly relocate them. He added that there should be additional laws regarding these problems to minimize their impact on the people.


-- NNT 2016-04-07

Agreed, but the constant moaning from locals is what hinders important economic progress in this country.

This motorway is essential, for anyone who's ever driven from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi knows, the traffic is horrendous. It usually takes 3 hours to drive from the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, when it shouldn't take much more than 1.5 hours. It can take 4 hours from parts of eastern Bangkok, which is unacceptable. A new motorway/expressway would solve much of that problem.

Except to see the jungle, why would Bangkokians drive to Kanchanaburi?? What can be done there?

Agreed, but the constant moaning from locals is what hinders important economic progress in this country.

This motorway is essential, for anyone who's ever driven from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi knows, the traffic is horrendous. It usually takes 3 hours to drive from the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, when it shouldn't take much more than 1.5 hours. It can take 4 hours from parts of eastern Bangkok, which is unacceptable. A new motorway/expressway would solve much of that problem.

Well said!! to hell with the people who live there and whose land is to be expropriated. What do they matter compared to your ability to get to Kanchanaburi in half the time. Selfish or what! Don't they realise plenty of HI-SO people have weekend homes in Kanchanaburi? Tarmac the whole damn forest then they won't need to drive there anyway!

Except to see the jungle, why would Bangkokians drive to Kanchanaburi?? What can be done there?

Hang on, with a decent moronway we could build some fake Italian villages/malls and Bangkok people would travel miles to take selfies!

Except to see the jungle, why would Bangkokians drive to Kanchanaburi?? What can be done there?

Hang on, with a decent moronway we could build some fake Italian villages/malls and Bangkok people would travel miles to take selfies!

Nahh, too many insects there near the jungle. Hi-so's go to the mountains, that sounds a lot better on their fayboo.

Agreed, but the constant moaning from locals is what hinders important economic progress in this country.

This motorway is essential, for anyone who's ever driven from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi knows, the traffic is horrendous. It usually takes 3 hours to drive from the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, when it shouldn't take much more than 1.5 hours. It can take 4 hours from parts of eastern Bangkok, which is unacceptable. A new motorway/expressway would solve much of that problem.

Well said!! to hell with the people who live there and whose land is to be expropriated. What do they matter compared to your ability to get to Kanchanaburi in half the time. Selfish or what! Don't they realise plenty of HI-SO people have weekend homes in Kanchanaburi? Tarmac the whole damn forest then they won't need to drive there anyway!

It's not just about Kanchanaburi, do you realise the number of industrial areas located between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, particularly in Nakorn Pathom and Ban Pong, Ratchaburi? If there was an expressway there, it would provide enormous benefits to factories, logistics companies and provide jobs and improve livelihoods. Not to mention that the upcoming Dawei deep sea port will eventually be linked to this expressway.

Forest on the way? What forest? The whole way from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is built up, what little open land that still remains is either klongs (canals) or former marsh land converted to paddy fields.

Pay the villagers a few bucks and build the damn expressway already.

Traffic in and around Bangkok is bad enough as it is due to a lack of road space. If this were China, this expressway would have been built 10 years ago.

there should be additional laws regarding these problems to minimize their impact on the people.

Not an option when the Meechai draft constitution is endorsed. People will lose most of their rights to interfer with government or private development programs that were provided under the 2007 Constitution.

For example, the 2007 Constitution provided that individuals and communities can petition directly to the court and halt projects - not so under the Meechai draft constitution. Thus, any laws to minimize the impact on people will not be unnecessary.

there should be additional laws regarding these problems to minimize their impact on the people.

Not an option when the Meechai draft constitution is endorsed. People will lose most of their rights to interfer with government or private development programs that were provided under the 2007 Constitution.

For example, the 2007 Constitution provided that individuals and communities can petition directly to the court and halt projects - not so under the Meechai draft constitution. Thus, any laws to minimize the impact on people will not be unnecessary.

Seems hard to believe that with the junta in power now, they don't have sweeping laws to flush out whoever lives in the path of a proposed infrastructure project like this one. I thought this type of government can do what it wants to the people, with little need to give any notice, any justification or anything.

I'm very surprised that ordinary citizens still get to have a say in these sorts of matters - after all, Thailand is no longer a democracy.

there should be additional laws regarding these problems to minimize their impact on the people.

Not an option when the Meechai draft constitution is endorsed. People will lose most of their rights to interfer with government or private development programs that were provided under the 2007 Constitution.

For example, the 2007 Constitution provided that individuals and communities can petition directly to the court and halt projects - not so under the Meechai draft constitution. Thus, any laws to minimize the impact on people will not be unnecessary.

Seems hard to believe that with the junta in power now, they don't have sweeping laws to flush out whoever lives in the path of a proposed infrastructure project like this one. I thought this type of government can do what it wants to the people, with little need to give any notice, any justification or anything.

I'm very surprised that ordinary citizens still get to have a say in these sorts of matters - after all, Thailand is no longer a democracy.

Oh, people can have a say with the junta's permission, just no power.

The junta has absolute power. To the degree that courts do side with the people, the junta can unilaterally mitigate or negate any court ruling having the effect of a constitutional decision - perfectly consistent with a country having no democratic institutions.