Transport, Tourism Ministries plan to move
The government is planning to move the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Transport Ministry away from their current locations, which suffer heavy traffic congestion, and five potential locations are under consideration.
Three of these are the State Railway of Thailand’s land bank close to Mae Nam railway station in the Chong Nonsi area, which totals 260 rai (42 hectares); Kilometre 11 on Paholyothin Road, with 400 rai near the Energy Complex; and a 400-rai plot close to the Makkasan Airport Link station. The other potential areas, with huge space of 1,000 rai each, are the current location of Bangkok Port and the Preakkasa area of Samut Prakan, 30 kilometres east of Bangkok, owned by Aeronautical Radio of Thailand.
The plan is meant to serve the government’s idea of turning Rajdamnoen Road, which is crowded with government agencies and ministries, into Bangkok’s main walking street like the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Silpachai Jarukasemratana, permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, said the concerned committee had to consider which is the most suitable area for the relocation. The most important factor is transport: It should be easily connected to mass transit or the expressway system to move 20,000-30,000 officials efficiently.
It will take at least four or five months to finalise the plan.
He added that the committee would ask the Treasury Department whether it wants to proceed with construction of a second government office complex. If not, the Transport Ministry will take responsibility for the investment.
In addition, it will ask other ministries and government agencies along Rajdamnoen Road whether they want |to move.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has already indicated that it wants to move out to the second government office |complex.
The committee will propose the final conclusion for government approval. It will also propose a budget allocation of Bt30 million to Bt40 million for the design phase.
“It needs to be designed with the mass transport system around the new complex to reduce traffic congestion,” Silpachai said.
Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan yesterday had yet to submit the name of the new permanent secretary to be considered by the Cabinet.
A source at Government House previously reported that Pol General Vichien Pojphosri, secretary of the Office of the National Security Council, would take the position.
There is still political conflict between the Pheu Thai Party and Charupong, who himself wants Somchai Siriwattana-choke, chief of the Department of Land Transport, to take over the position.
