Phuket’s power to dive underground

PHUKET TOWN: Phuket’s power supply is to be moved underground to beautify the island by removing eyesore electricity poles and lines. Prasoot Ruengjiratian, Marketing Manager of the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA), told a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall today that burying the lines would make the island a more attractive place for tourists. Patong’s seafront and Phuket Town’s most attractive old streets will be first to have the lines transferred underground. K. Prasoot said this initial part of the project would cost 48 million baht. “K. Paijit Tianpaithoon, the Chief of Thailand’s Electricity Authority, has approved this project,” K.Prasoot said. Under the plan, the first areas to have power placed underground will be Thalang Rd-Thepkrasattri Rd and Thalang Rd-Yaowarat Rd while in Patong, the strip will run along Thaweewong Rd to the Amari Coral Beach bridge. K. Prasoot was unable to say when the underground project would begin but apologized in advance to residents for the inevitable inconvenience and disruption.