BANGKOK officials have unveiled 12 projects to build walkways, bicycle lanes and scenic areas, plus renovate a historic canal area as part of the “Chao Phraya For All” development project.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) also plans to relocate about 300 households that will be affected by the project – which covers a 57-kilometre route from Rama VII Bridge to Bang Krachao – to the Army Transportation Department’s flats and the Ua Athorn government housing.

However, disgruntled riverside resident groups yesterday delivered a petition to the prime minister, claiming they had not been fully consulted on the project and demanding it be halted.

BMA permanent secretary Peerapong Saichua said the city would ask for almost Bt1.1 billion in fiscal year 2017 to aid those affected by the project, in addition to 2016 fiscal year’s Bt126 million budget for adviser fees, public forums and meeting expenses.

The budget will also fund construction and payments to project advisers from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lat Krabang and Khon Kaen University, who have been contracted to do feasibility studies and draft the Chao Phraya development master plan

That process began on March 1 and is due to be completed by September 26.

Peerapong said the project involves three main components: A public relations campaign for community participation in hearings to give input and partake in the project design; the drawing up of the master plan and the initial environmental impact assessment for the project’s 12 development plans; and the detailed design and in-depth environmental impact assessment covering four sections along the river.

In the latter, the Thon Buri side’s 3.2km-long section from Rama VII bridge to Bang Phlat Canal was complete, while the rest would be done by September, he added.

Peerapong said the second component’s 12 development plans included: Construction of riverside walkways, bicycle lanes and bridges linking cultural heritage places plus the revival of mangrove forests and green zones; the re-landscaping of flood barriers; the development of piers for public transport; renovation of nearby alleys for better access to riverbanks; renovation of historic canals for overall landscaping and public use for tourism and transport; and conservation of the riverside communities’ history and culture as a learning hub and tourist attraction.

For 309 affected families in 12 communities in Bang Sue, Bang Phlat and Dusit districts, Peerapong said the Community Organisations Development Institute reported that these people would be relocated to the Army Transportation Department’s flats, Ua Athorn government housing or to newly purchased plots.

Meanwhile, “River Assembly” members and representatives of a network of riverside communities submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday via the Government House’s Public Service Centre calling for the “Chao Phraya For All” development project to be halted.

They claimed the people had not been asked to participate in the project and had not been given full information about implications of the Chao Phraya master plan.

They called on Prayut to get the city to halt the project to allow a process of consultation with the people in setting out the vision, strategies and alternatives, and to provide full information to stakeholders and the public.

The group said they would also submit similar appeals to the Bangkok Council and the National Reform Steering Assembly.

Source: The Nation