Five state agencies ink agreement to bring overhead utility cables underground

[Stardust314]

No, thank de Bill

[Torrens54]

Bill Gates will be pleased..... BUT has HE FIXED WINDOWS 10?

[jamesbrock]

If the haphazard ways they arrange the overhead wiring here are examples to go by and if the same principles are applied underground, then walking on sidewalks will be like walking on a minefield, especially in the rainy season.

I can just imagine the heaps of dead electrocuted pedestrians piling up waiting for trucks to come and take them away.

While I hope your prophecy doesn't come to pass, I, like you, fear it will.

[exalll]

Dear Authorities,

On behalf of the squirrels of Bangkok, please leave ONE cable above ground. Otherwise we will not be able to run from tree to tree and will have to descend to the ground where we will get run over.

[lostmebike]

IF and WHEN this happens. those living in BKK should take one, almighty, long holiday.

The traffic would be horrendous.

[freebyrd]

2075 maybe

That's a fair guess. I worked in a hotel in BKK in 1994 and met a group of consultants from Ireland who were in towm to consult regarding the 'imminent' project to move the unsightly cabling underground. I've never seen Thailand move quickly with anything, except officials filling their own pockets of course.

[freebyrd]

IF and WHEN this happens. those living in BKK should take one, almighty, long holiday.

The traffic would be horrendous.

Probably similar to the years they were building the Skytrain?

[tx22cb]

Dear Authorities,

On behalf of the squirrels of Bangkok, please leave ONE cable above ground. Otherwise we will not be able to run from tree to tree and will have to descend to the ground where we will get run over.

Dear Editor,

We strongly protest this blatant hostile action against the avian species.

We birds of a feather have for decades relied on Bangkok's horizontal perches to practice our aim in sh%tting on the cars and pedestrians below.

The removal of these precious cables will take away our favourite pastime.

As a last resort, if the humans actually do remove the overhead lines, at least make them erect thousands of statues around the city - preferably of corrupt people - so we can give them the "Trafalgar" treatment.

Yours etc,

Angry Birds

[klauskunkel]

Bill Gates released his annual MCW (Messy Cables and Wires) report and Thailand was downgraded to tier 3 Watch List. Naturally, Thai government fumed over the loss of face, especially in the light of Antarctica, which didn't have any cables at all, boasting the highest achievable ranking.

Quote from gov spokes person: We will use anything in our power to get off this tier 3 thing. We will adjust attitudes with article 44. We will use our ultimate weapon, yes...we will use: THE TAT! That will show the world how determined we are to stamp out Messy Cabling in our beloved country, ...of course as always with due transparency and accountability and oversight.

Anonymous comment: If there is anywhere a annual MOR (Messy Official Ramblings) report, I sure hope it comes out soon.

Edited July 1, 2016 by klauskunkel

[Farang99]

Only in Bangkok? Take a look at Phuket sometime, including the much visited Old Town - an absolute nightmare.

[BKKdreaming]

what is the water level of Bangkok ?

many places have above ground wires that do not look like the mess in BKK

Fix them and leave them above ground.....

Why ??? well google what happened in Long Beach California earlier in the year when the underground power "broke" and it took about a week to get it sorted out

never mind , nothing will be done anyway.......

[thai3]

can we get Gates to look at the state of the pavements as well? was there not a story recently about a nuclear power station here, does not bode well does it

Edited July 1, 2016 by thai3

[Paul Laycock]

Wake me up when it's complete, ps don't forget the north east - or is this just a PR statement for the tourists.

[gyrosman]

Boy, that is going to be interesting. The traffic problems now, picture them digging holes and trying to figure out what to do next and shifting power from above to underground.Better buy a power generator and enjoy walking. And if your wife or girlfriend cooks food haven't a food cart will pay for the gas in the generator, picture 1km of underground will take 2-3years, maybe in my next life I'll see the change.

Thank you Bill Gates, the Thai government couldn't have done this without your leadership.

[Thian]

It's not that simple to put them underground.

Maybe there are drains which have to be moved or concrete structures. Then there is nasty clay in BKK which will sink slowly after being dug. At places which flood regularly everything has to be made waterproof or on high poles. All the digging will cause trafficjam and congestion and mud will wash in the drains.

If they really make underground cables it would be wise to also make real pavement consisting of concrete tiles. Those can always be opened and levelled again.

[robblok]

So let's get this straight. Bill Gates observed (not criticised) that there were a lot of hanging cables around Thailand. Anyone with half-a-brain agreed with him. Anyone who lives with their head up their ar** said he should mind his own business.

Now the government has said it will sort all this out. Whether they will or not will have to be seen. But the lesson here to be learnt is - calling a spade a spade or constructive criticism is good for any society. Burying your head in the sand doesn't change anything; in fact, it just makes the problem worse.

Just very sad it had to take one rich and powerful man to bring it into discussion. A foreign one, too.

I remember another PM who was critisized by a foreign country and answered "the UNO is not my father".

That guy had obviously a lot more balls than the present PM.

You mean the hypocrite who now that he is not in power is using the UN to turn the heat on for the current government. But when he was in power could not care less about them. That guy.. ? The hypocrite that is a convicted criminal on the run.

[hansnl]

Before moving it underground..

Maybe try to have a proper plan drawing of where everything is?

I imagine 10 years down the road, after everything have been moved underground, we will start seeing news of "Government agencies accidentally cut a underground cable.."

That, Sir, happens anywhere in the world where cables, water and gas are underground.

But, indeed, all those cables on poles, including higher voltage ones,including various equipment, are not only an eyesore but a highly dangerous eyesore which is prone to weather influences.

[robblok]

Before moving it underground..

Maybe try to have a proper plan drawing of where everything is?

I imagine 10 years down the road, after everything have been moved underground, we will start seeing news of "Government agencies accidentally cut a underground cable.."

That, Sir, happens anywhere in the world where cables, water and gas are underground.

But, indeed, all those cables on poles, including higher voltage ones,including various equipment, are not only an eyesore but a highly dangerous eyesore which is prone to weather influences.

Correct it happens everywhere even in the perfectly organised country like the Netherlands that is light-years a head of the USA in putting cables in the ground (wonder if mr Gates knows about that).

Anyway even in the Netherlands it goes wrong once in a while and even there there are idiots that break open the street and then a few months later an other agency does the same instead of coordinating it better.

That is a world wide problem nowhere is it perfect.

[hansnl]

what is the water level of Bangkok ?

many places have above ground wires that do not look like the mess in BKK

Fix them and leave them above ground.....

Why ??? well google what happened in Long Beach California earlier in the year when the underground power "broke" and it took about a week to get it sorted out

never mind , nothing will be done anyway.......

California?

Isn't that in the US?

Figures.

If it done as it should be done, without skimping on costs, there is no problem.

In the Netherlands, for example, water mains, gas mains, electricity, telecom and anything else, is below ground.

In some places the groundwater level is just a few inches below street level, and yet, hiccups are scarce.

Any hiccups are mostly "organised" by private companies not using brains, drawings, good common sense or just not having patience.

Edited July 1, 2016 by hansnl

[Remus1830]

Just one comment why do they need the police to be part of this?

Seems the police are involved in everything in Thailand.

[hansnl]

Just one comment why do they need the police to be part of this?

Seems the police are involved in everything in Thailand.

Stealing copper maybe?

[ChrisY1]

Can just see Soi Nana....well the whole lot of them really, being trenched..........it would never work.......

[chuang]

Should keep it as a tourist attraction...

[nakhonandy]

Nice thought but it will not work here.

People mention The Netherlands etc where this is common.

True but their Cities don't flood all the time.

On a purely engineering level and delivering Quality of Service this would be a nightmare.

Just clean up and upgrade what is there! That would probably take several years anyhow.

[chicowoodduck]

Is is April Fools day in July?????

I've heard the same story in Pattaya for the last 12 years.....?

[robblok]

Nice thought but it will not work here.

People mention The Netherlands etc where this is common.

True but their Cities don't flood all the time.

On a purely engineering level and delivering Quality of Service this would be a nightmare.

Just clean up and upgrade what is there! That would probably take several years anyhow.

No but many of our cities are below sea leven and ground water levels are real high so some of these cables are exposed to water a lot.

So its quite possible but expensive and harder to maintain.

[Morakot]

signed a memorandum of understanding

Yes, they are intending to do something.

[williamgeorgeallen]

well the paper work as been done (how many times over the last 30 years) so the next part in the process is who gets the back handers for awarding contracts, then the budget disappears, then the whole thing starts again. dont blame the players, blame the game, well ok blame the players as well.

[Geoffggi]

Not even worth commenting on it won't happen, but thing they could do to reduce the eyesore a little would be to remove all the lines no longer in use, this would significantly reduce the number of lines up there.... & possibly give a better idea of the scale of the problem

[Redline]

He still thinks there is going to be a digital economy I guess he thinks, if he says it a lot, it will happen.