After destroying an extension market that had occupied the footpath for almost 20 years, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) is renovating a walkway at Klong Toey Market on Rama IV Road.
The street-side business, known as Rim Khlong Hua Lamphong Market, or Talat Lao for little, has long existed in the area.
By April, the market’s street repairs may be finished, giving it a cleaner and more organized appearance than one of the city’s oldest new markets.
The Lao Market has a route of over 100 meters that has been occupied by Bangkok’s government, Chadchart Sittipunt, since 2005.
Following issues about walkers being forced to walk on the road and risking accidents, the BMA implemented a plan to eliminate all stalls from the area.
Additionally, distributors were accused of dumping their waste directly into the river, making it a dump site, and infuriating the canal’s inhabitants with bad odours and health problems.
Nearly 100 stalls selling food and supplies, with a focus on northeastern cuisine, were previously designated as a momentary vendor area.
On Aug 30 2018, the Klong Toey District Office fully revoked the momentary merchant rights.
Retailers continued to set up road stalls until December of last year when the city office mobilized more than 100 officials, including Klong Toey and local stations ‘ police officers, to regain the place after giving stall owners several months to leave.
Before the Lao Market was destroyed, sellers occupied the road inside the building.
Officials properly eradicated the business structures and cleared the area. While the majority of sellers agreed to leave and go back to their homeland, others moved their businesses to Klong Toey Market.
Somjet Kaewklay, the head of the area law enforcement part at Klong Toey District Office, stated,” This is the beginning of an effort to improve the environment around Klong Toey Market, which is one of the governor’s methods for regulating city stalls.”
The BMA wants to make the road along Ratchadaphisek Road more peaceful and give back the space to pedestrians, starting at Klong Toey Intersection and ending at Na Ranong Intersection.
According to him,” we will improve not only the footpath along Rama IV Road but also all of the streets around Klong Toey Market,” adding that new cement walkways and ladders designed for wheelchairs will be installed in accordance with universal design guidelines.
” All road repairs will be completed by the end of April”, he confirmed.
” This job has cost only a few million baht, but the rewards will be important. Klong Toey Market will seem much more appealing and even have trails nearby. There will be designated park lots that won’t impede customers, making it easier for both consumers and pedestrians,” he continued.
Chaturon Hundee, 57, welcomed the changes, noting that the market’s outside had formerly been repulsive. My parents frequently took me to Klong Toey Market during the Chinese New Year as a child. We had to buy large quantities of poultry, bird, and pork because the costs were so cheap. However, walking round was hard, and the floor was usually wet and dirty. I’m pleased to see these modifications– at the very least, it will be easier for commuters like myself to slip through”, he said.
Wittaya Saejung, a meat merchant at Klong Toey Market for over 30 years, expressed help for the repairs, although he sympathised with the suppliers forced to relocate.
He also emphasized the need for designated park lots for supply vehicles in order to relieve place traffic congestion.
” If feasible, there should be federal officials overseeing neatness, especially now that so many international visitors visit the business”, he suggested.
Jakkapan Phiewngam, lieutenant governor of Bangkok, who oversees city seller policies, said that the BMA has a plan to progressively eliminate temporary merchant zones, especially on commuter walkways, to maintain cleanliness and order in the town.
” Approximately 20 years ago, there were 683 designated areas where 20, 771 vendors operated street stalls. Later, the Metropolitan Police Bureau requested that all of these areas be eliminated. By 2010, the BMA had successfully cancelled the majority, leaving only 61 sites with 3, 723 vendors. However, despite restrictions, 9, 996 vendors continued to set up stalls unlawfully in 323 locations”, he noted.
” We will continue to restore public spaces to keep the city orderly and clean, just like we have done in the Klong Toey Market,” he continued.