Bangkok set for major law shake-up after 40 years
Is Bangkok finally getting the makeover it desperately needs? The capital is set for a long-overdue shake-up, as officials prepare to modernise the decades-old law that governs the city, and it could change how Bangkok is run for generations to come.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced plans to revise the BMA Act 1985, a 40 year old law that city leaders say no longer meets the needs of a bustling 21st-century metropolis.
Aekwaranyu Amrapal, BMA spokesperson, said yesterday, April 17, that the proposed amendments aim to “enhance efficiency in line with the challenges facing a modern city.”
“After nearly three years of work and gathering public feedback from various communities, it has become clear that Bangkok still struggles with structural issues, such as repeated pavement excavation, severe traffic congestion, under-utilised areas beneath expressways, and messy overhead cables. These issues stem from the limitations within our current administrative system.”
The proposed amendment will tackle three major areas: duties and powers, funding and budget, and administrative structure.
Under the new proposal, the BMA would gain wider authority to enforce environmental regulations, improve social services, and crack down on illegal businesses operating in the city.
Specifically, the BMA would be empowered to set and enforce emissions standards for vehicles and factories, expand support for vulnerable communities, and improve oversight of informal economic activity.
But it’s not just about power, it’s also about money.
The amendments include provisions to let the BMA introduce new taxes and fees, including a pollution tax, hotel tax, cigarette tax, and even a levy on older vehicles, giving the city more autonomy to raise funds for development.
In a move to ensure transparency and public involvement, the BMA has launched an online hearing where citizens can submit feedback until May 18, reported Bangkok Post.
“This is a crucial moment for Bangkok,” Aekwaranyu added. “We want to build a city that can move forward with greater agility, better services, and stronger accountability.”
With city streets choked by traffic, pollution levels spiking, and infrastructure stretched to the limit, the big question is: can a new law finally clean up Bangkok’s mess?
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