Bangkok Port relocation set to combat pollution and congestion

The Bangkok Port, a 32-rai facility located next to the Chao Phraya River in the Klong Toey district, is slated for relocation as per government orders. The decision aims to repurpose the area for public advantage.

The directive was communicated through a letter issued by Thawatchai Chanpaisansil, adviser to the Cabinet Secretariat, on April 4 to the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Interior, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), and the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT). This letter outlined the Cabinet’s resolution from their prior Tuesday meeting to move Bangkok Port out of the capital city.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in an April 2 Cabinet meeting, had proposed this relocation, emphasizing the potential benefits it could bring to Klong Toey residents and the wider Bangkok populace. This move is anticipated to alleviate the dust pollution generated by freight trucks that frequent Bangkok Port.

The Cabinet has tasked the Ministry of Transport to collaborate with the PAT and relevant agencies to expedite the relocation’s feasibility study. This directive also includes the transfer of all amenities, such as depots and oil storage facilities.

The Ministry of Transport, PAT, BMA, and other concerned agencies are expected to draft a post-relocation development plan to tackle prevalent issues like slum community problems, traffic congestion, and dust pollution, the source revealed.

“The prime minister is keen on elevating the living standards of the Klong Toey community and is resolute about eliminating the pollution and congestion issues caused by the port’s presence in inner Bangkok.”

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt had earlier proposed this relocation during a meeting with the prime minister at City Hall in February. The 62 year old Bangkok-born premier, recognising the urgency, agreed to study the matter.

The BMA aims to shift the Bangkok Port to the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri, with a vision to reduce air pollution and transform the vacated area into a green space for city-dwellers, reported Bangkok Post.