Grand developmental plan eyed on six provinces in Bangkok

To usher development in the whole city of Bangkok in Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Interior Ministry have set up a committee that will work closely with six neighbouring provinces to integrate their development with Greater Bangkok´s city plan, due to be launched in 2011.

The BMA’s Department of City Planning identified the provinces as Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon and Chachoengsao.

The BMA said under the grand developmental plan the aforementioned provinces will come under the umbrella plan that will see their future urban development intrinsically linked with that of the capital.

M.R. Premsiri Kasemsunta, deputy director-general of the department, said public hearings were held earlier this year on the city plan´s impact in the six provinces.
He said during the hearings, residents brought up a number of urgent concerns.
Premsiri identified the pressing concerns as the speeding up of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line running along Chaeng Watthana Road, while in Samut Prakan residents said better transport was needed between the province and the capital.

On the other hand, Pathum Thani inhabitants reported problems with water drainage, while Samut Sakhon residents said the town lacked a comprehensive plan for land usage.

Furthermore, the BMA revealed it found that real estate developers wanted accessible land in Bangkok to be developed, and to encourage co-development between the public and private sectors.