Thaksin Center

[Wisarut]

Thonburi People Say "Yes" for BTS Extension,
"NO" agianst Taksin Center and BTS Route Modification

Komchadluek - August 8, 2005
Manager Daily - August 8, 2005
Dailynews - August 8, 2005
Thairath - August 8, 2005

After settig up Public Hearing at Rajabhat University of Ban Somdej Chaophraya at 2 PM of
August 7, 2005 with about 1100 local people attending. The local people say NO to
Taksin Center since it require extensive land exappropriation (175 Rai, 1703 families,
and 5.3 billion Baht) to remove many historical communities aroudn that area.

Furthermore, The local Thonburi people feel convinced that Taksin center would NOT amelorate
the traffic jam in theri area, it ONLY worsen the traffic jam due to the Gaint plaza allwoing
the rich elite to exploit the poorer local people. OTP also REFUSES to come and talk with local
people at all durign this public hearing. Theyjust send the representatives from6 consultants
participating in that project instead.

Furthermore, the local people prefer NOT to modify the BTS Route to be much closer to
Taksin center since it requires anotehr land exapproipriation whcihthe local people NEVER want.

The consultant told the angry local people that this prject has been under extensive study
and the govemrtn hasaclear policy to BUILD it anyway. This Taksincenter will be like Mochit 2
connecting the red lien commuter to Mahachai with BTSC Skytrain and MRTA Subway
along with the itnercity bus terminal. The consultant said they'll bring the local people's viewpoints
to OTP soas to rectify this wrong by the end of this year. Thelocalpeople saidthey'll be back on August 10 to see if OTP is listenign to the people at all.


Ref: http://www.mthai.com/webboard/5/130306.html
http://www.manager.co.th/QOL/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9480000105990
http://www.dailynews.co.th/bma/each.asp?newsid=62033
http://www.thairath.co.th/thairath1/2548/bangkok/aug/08/bkk2.php

[SolidMercury]

The voices are heard - and the local people may regret it one day ...

They are now down to 1.5 rai at what was called Taksin Center or BSTC. This leaves some space for a stop of the Red Line Commuter, enough for a 400-m walkway to the BTS station, but virtually no space for bus stops and at least some amenities around the station (proper access, lighting, pedestrian crossings, etc.). Whilst I agree that 175 rai were too much to accept, this substandard solution will only hurt long-term, for the sake of short-term satisfaction.

The dreams of big-time around Wuttakat Rd. are over, and with it goes the chance of modernisation. So let's stay in our four walls, behind the blinds and come out to protest the intruders. Guys, this is a bad trade (and you are in for the next one: asking for a tunnel into Bangkok City destroys the project as a high-priority project, i.e., you'll end up with nothing - just see the list in the papers today).

Finally, where does the Southern Intermodal (Bus/Rail) Terminal go then? Rumours are that it's somewhere towards the Outer Ringroad, Rang Pho or Sam Yeak. These are rather locations for a container terminal, in my humble opinion.

[otherstuff1957]

I keep on noticing the words "green areas" in these posts. I've looked at a number of to artists rendering of planned developments in Thailand and they always show lots of nice green trees and grass. I've come to the conclusion that that greenery is largely artistic liscense on the part of the draftsman. I real life there will be additional buildings (either pre-existing slums or new commercial buildings) where the plans show green empty space.