Dog park, hospitals among BMA pre-election gifts
Just months before Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra's tenure ends, his city administration has unveiled many interesting projects.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), for example, is now preparing to create the country’s first dog park for the four-legged best friends of many city residents. This dog park will span 4.6 rai of land and include a veterinary building.
“Dogs will get space to exercise. The park is specially designed for them,” BMA spokesman Wasan Meewong said yesterday.
He said this dog park would be a part of the project to create a public park in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district under a Bt50-million budget.
“The construction for the project will likely start in January and this new public park should be ready to welcome visitors by October next year,” Wasan said.
He said this new public park would span over 33 rai of land, and 24 rai of it would be landscaped.
“It will include an 800-metre jogging track and a 900-metre bicycle lane. There will be two outdoor stages and a zone for the elderly too,” Wasan said. He added that the park’s parking zones would have space for 80 vehicles.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr Malinee Sukvejvorakij said BMA was also in the process of setting up four 200-bed hospitals in four corners of Bangkok in line with Sukhumbhand’s policy.
“The governor has issued this policy in response to urban expansion,” she said. “The increased number of hospitals will provide greater convenience to people living in suburban zones and avoid overcrowding at hospitals in inner Bangkok.”
She said the Bang Khun Thien Hospital on Bangkok’s Thon Buri side would start its services from December 3.
In eastern Bangkok, the design for the Khlong Sam Wa Hospital is now being reviewed by the BMA Public Works Department. Once the design is approved, construction will begin on a 20-rai plot in Bangkok Noi district.
“People have donated this plot of land to Wat Srisudraram Ratchaworawihan and its abbot has agreed to the plan to construct the hospital,” Malinee said.
In northern Bangkok, the Don Muang Hospital will be built on a 10-rai plot of land donated by Thanpuying Choen Pisonyabutr. In southern Bangkok, BMA will construct another hospital in Bang Na district.
“We are in the process of finding an appropriate plot of land,” she said.
The gubernatorial election in Bangkok is set to take place in February. In recent months, the BMA and Sukhumbhand have announced a slew of projects.
