Highways Office chief told to speed up Chalong Circle removal

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima has told Saroj Suwinchai, the chief of the Phuket Provincial Highways Office, and Paiboon Upatising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), to get going on removing Chalong Circle.

At the monthly Governor Meets Press meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday, V/Gov Worapoj said, “It’s too old and not attractive for people who pass by and see it. I need to make it better.

“Also, there are serious traffic jams there in the morning and evening. So it should be done quickly.” V/Gov Worapoj said.

Khun Saroj explained that he had first to apply to the OrBorJor for permission to remove the roundabout, including the large fountain that is the centerpiece of the circle, as the OrBorJor had paid for it, and thus it was the OrBorJor‘s property.

“The OrBorJor has now given us permission to remove it. But when I went to inspect the roundabout, I saw that the fountain is about three meters wide and made of concrete and steel. So now we are looking for a way to remove it,” he said.

However, V/Gov Worapoj said, “I have asked K. Paiboon and he has agreed to remove it, but I still need you both [Saroj and Paiboon] to co-ordinate the budget required and get it done.”

K. Worapoj also told the press that the OrBorJor were co-ordinating with the Srisoonthorn Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) to expand the road around the Heroines’ Monument by six meters.

“It will be good for traffic because every car must pass at that monument to come to Phuket. The OrBorJor has given about 10 million baht to Srisoonthorn OrBorTor for the project.

“However, they have encountered a problem and are now in negotiations with a private landowner there,” V/G Worapoj said.

He added that the Srisoonthorn OrBorTor will soon receive 27 million baht to install roadside drainage ditches along Thepkrasattri Rd from the Heroines’ Monument to Koh Kaew.

“We need to fix the flooding problems there, which happen often after it rains. The budget has been approved by the provincial committee and will soon be given so the project can be started,” he said.