'Venice of the East' revival plan starts making inroads

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'Venice of the East' revival plan starts making inroads

The glory days of canals are over, but that's not stopping efforts to restore them

Published: 24 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The glorious days of Bangkok as the "Venice of the East" will start to stir in the hearts of city residents under plans to modernise and use more water transport in the capital.

Passenger boats cruise along Khlong Saen Sap near Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok’s Watthana district. Saen Sap is one of the khlongs that will be improved under City Hall’s plan to modernise water transport in Bangkok. PATIPAT JANTHONG.

Despite few canals remaining, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will move ahead with promoting water transport as a primary means of transportation, just like the old days.

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jgriff
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Discussion 3 : 25 Nov 2012 at 01.283
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The only way I would ever travel on any Khlong is if they we completely inclosed in glass. But then again I would probably only ride it a couple of times because you wouldn't be able to see throw the glass because of the pollution in the canals.
They will NEVER get the water in the khlongs clean.
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onlyme
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Discussion 2 : 24 Nov 2012 at 22.092
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'The city administration has tried to negotiate with encroaching households and to restore the canal and its piers, but failed, Mr Orawit said.'
What negotiation, if they are illegally encroaching on public property they get torn down, simple. If I don't pay my electric bill they cut me off simple, same for my phone and so on. Then you have to teach people to not throw garbage, sewage and so on into the klongs so you can breathe when you are on the boats. All of this is so obvious.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 1 : 24 Nov 2012 at 11.041
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BMA should make the city more clean and sidewalk more walkable or even bike-able to promote walking and biking. Water transportation only reaches a limited area, not worth spending hundreds of millions improving it. Thais love biking and I think more would bike if given the space to.
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'Venice of the East' revival plan starts making inroads | Bangkok Post: news