Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has come forward to defend the fourth revision of City Hall’s plan for the city, which has faced criticism from the public for being “pro-developer”. In response to the backlash, Mr Chadchart stated that City Hall welcomes constructive criticism but expressed concerns that some opinions could lead to social disunity.
According to the governor, the plan is required by law to be revised every five years in order to accommodate the city’s growth. Chadchart further explained that the new plan aims to improve the living standards of the city’s residents.
Public hearings are currently underway to gather input before the plan is submitted to the Provincial City Plan Committee for further evaluation.
During a recent hearing, Korn Chatikavanij, former finance minister and representative of a civil group, raised concerns about the plan’s focus on increasing the density of the city rather than enhancing the quality of life for its residents. He also questioned the need for expanding 148 roads around the city, which City Hall claimed would support the railway system. Korn suspected that the road expansion would primarily benefit the construction of skyscrapers in residential areas, as the law prohibits high-rise buildings from being constructed on small roads. He also raised concerns about the lack of measures against corruption in the plan, specifically regarding the floor-to-area ratio (FAR) bonus for developers.
Sophon Noorat, head of the Rights Protection and Protection Department of the Thai Consumer Council (TCC), similarly criticized the plan, stating that it prioritizes development over the quality of life for the city’s residents. Kongsak Sahamontree from the Urban Life Quality Protection Community Network called for more public participation in the plan and suggested that feedback from the public should be incorporated into the revisions.
Deputy Bangkok governor Wisanu Subsompon defended the plan on Tuesday, explaining that it was developed to address the city’s expansion and changing land usage while also increasing green spaces for the public. He emphasized that the color coding used in the plan was not intended to favor specific groups of developers but rather to benefit the public.
The public will have a 90-day period to provide feedback on the plan before it is finalized and approved, according to Mr. Wisanu.
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