Chatuchak rent rise mainly opposed by vendors who sublet
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I support the State Railway of Thailand's stand that Chatuchak stalls should be let out at Bt3,157 per month for two years. The principle is that the rent should be at market levels, and a two-year lease sounds reasonable. After that period, the lessees w
Pol Lt General Chatt said most of the protesters against the rent rise stand to lose money because they have sublet their stalls to others. Well, SRT has stated from the start that they would raise rents to the market level, and their goal, with which I agree, is to rent to ultimate vendors only, not to brokers, so those who sublet do so with full knowledge that they are going counter to SRT policy, and must now face the consequences.
SRT should use the increased rents to develop and publicise the area to bring in more tourists, especially on weekdays, and should work closely with authorities to prevent unregulated vendors from squatting on public land and competing with legitimate Chatuchak lessees, who have paid rent and thus face higher costs.
Profits from the market should then be used to develop third-class railway service and cargo-handling capabilities, especially on long hauls, thus benefiting underprivileged passengers and all Thais, since rail transport is much more efficient at handling cargo on long hauls than roads.
Use the Chatuchak market to benefit the country as a whole, not just a small group of vendors.
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
