The Transport Ministry is looking to revive a controversial project to build roads along the banks of the Chao Phraya River.
General view of Chao Phraya River is viewed from Rama III Bridge. (Bangkok Post file photo)
The plan, which still requires approval from the military junta, is designed to ease traffic congestion capital and prevent flooding in the capital.
The ministry will request a budget of 40 million baht from the national transport infrastructure plan to conduct a feasibility study for the project, which would see riverside roads built along flood levees between Bangkok and Nonthaburi.
The ministry's transport strategy committee last week approved a 3-trillion-baht infrastructure development plan to be rolled out between 2015 and 2022. The plan, which is also subject to junta approval, added 1 trillion baht to the widely-panned transport projects planned by the previous government.
Office of Transport, Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) director Chula Sukmano said yesterday talks were being held with the Finance Ministry to seek funds for the infrastructure plan.
Mr Chula said the key purpose of the riverbank roads is to tackle traffic congestion in Bangkok and prevent floods.
It would also allow city residents to access riverside areas, opening up more public space for use as recreational spots, he said.
The feasibility study, he said, could be concluded within a month and would then be submitted to NCPO deputy chief Prajin Juntong, who oversees economic affairs for the junta.
The move comes after Gen Prayuth told government agencies in a meeting last month that building roads along the Chao Phraya would help solve traffic problems and improve the efficiency of water management systems.
It was not clear whether the plan would involve reclaiming land from the river or expropriating riverside land.
A Transport Ministry source, however, said the plan would involve constructing roads along both sides of the river similar to those being built by the Department of Rural Roads. The department is currently building roads on top of flood levees in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi as part of a flood defence plan devised by the former Pheu Thai government.
The source also said foundation pillars would not be built in the river, which would obstruct scenery and raise opposition.
"Similar projects, which were studied in the past, faced fierce public opposition because they failed to address economic viability," according to the ministry source.
"The economic and social circumstances of the riverside communities have changed in the past 20 years and the new study must look into whether the project would still be worthwhile for the economy, society, communities and the country as a whole."
The source conceded the project could cause the river to become narrower.
The project, however, could help solve several problems, such as flooding and traffic congestion, the source said, adding that it would also rearrange riverside communities more effectively.
It is possible some riverside areas will be expropriated to pave the way for the road construction, the source said.
The plan for roads along the Chao Phraya River initially surfaced in 1992 during the term of then transport minister Vinai Sompong under the government of Chuan Leekpai.
The plan envisioned 25km-long riverbank roads from the Phra Pinklao bridge to Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi on the east side of the river and from Phra Pinklao bridge to Phra Nang Klao Bridge in Nonthaburi on the west side of the river.
The project was later shot down due to public fears that road foundation pillars built in the river could have negative environmental impacts.
Riverside communities also opposed the project as the foundation pillars could cause inconvenience for them in accessing jetties or travelling across the river.
A similar plan re-emerged during the Bangkok governor election campaign last year, when Pheu Thai candidate Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen floated an idea to build 17-km roads along the both sides of the Chao Phraya River from the Rama VIII bridge to Sathorn bridge.
The roads would enable officials to develop some areas into recreational spots alongside the river, he said.
He said there would be no land expropriation as foundation pillars will be built in the river. Pol Gen Pongsapat lost the election.
The former Pheu Thai-led government initiated plans to heighten roads along the Chao Phraya river in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi to protect the provinces from floods.
Construction work has been underway since early 2012.