Bangkok’s new drainage upgrade halves rainwater clearance time

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced that the newly implemented road drainage system in the Udomsuk area will significantly improve rainwater drainage efficiency.

Heavy rainfall over Bangkok prompted Chadchart to visit Udomsuk Road, also known as Sukhumvit Soi 103, to assess the flood situation following The Meteorological Department of Thailand’s (TMD) declaration of the official start of the rainy season.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that the new drainage system on Udomsuk Road managed to clear the rainwater in approximately half an hour.

The 57 year old governor highlighted that recent upgrades to the footpaths and the installation of a new o-gutter system have enhanced the road’s drainage capabilities. The new gutter system can drain water more quickly, meanwhile being easier to clean. Altogether, the system reduces the risk of blockages, causing floods.

Chadchart emphasised that these renovations have already shown significant improvements in drainage efficiency, also mentioning the damaged Bueng Nong Bon drainage tunnel, once repaired, would further enhance the drainage systems for Udomsuk Road and other areas in the Bang Na district.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Tavida Kamolvej revealed that the BMA has developed an action plan titled Nine Plans, 9 Disasters to address various disasters, namely floods during this rainy season. The plan will be presented to the Interior Ministry’s committee on disaster prevention and mitigation next month.

Additionally, the BMA is scheduled to make a presentation next Tuesday highlighting its future plans and achievements over the past two years, marking the second anniversary of Chadchart’s tenure.

Tavida noted several accomplishments by the BMA, including the opening of 21 new public parks, the planting of approximately 400,000 trees, and the improved separation of recyclable waste, which has reduced daily waste by up to 700 tonnes. The BMA has also increased the lunch budget for schools and nurseries under its jurisdiction, reported Bangkok Post.

The TMD issued a 10-day weather forecast for the period from yesterday, May 22, to the following Friday. A southwest monsoon is expected to cover the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand until Saturday, bringing scattered rain and thunderstorms across the nation.

Rainfall is predicted to decrease from Sunday to Tuesday, then increase again until Friday.