According to City Hall, two mortality underscore the need for coordinated action by numerous organizations.
PUBLISHED: 7 Does 2024 at 18: 47
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) is developing urgent plans to improve pedestrian safety along city streets and prevent manhole cover thefts.
A 59-year-old man died last Friday after falling into a 7-metre-deep shaft owned by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority ( MEA ) on a road divider in the Lat Phrao district.
The target stepped onto a wood handle that had been used to replace a stolen iron manhole cover, according to reports.
A bicyclist fell into a drain system inside the Mahai Sawan overpass only two days later, killing her instantly. After the cap was stolen, one part had been left unprotected.
The BMA has stressed the importance of health procedures for manhole covers along roads in light of the situations. According to Narong Ruangsri, the BMA’s assistant continuous secretary, stringent inspections will be conducted both before and after the MEA’s work.
He made the remarks after holding a meeting on Tuesday with the MEA, the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority, National Telecom, and the Highways Department.
According to Mr. Narong, the related key authorities and district offices have been given the task of strengthening inspections and releasing any irregularities as soon as possible.
Additionally, the BMA stressed the use of relevant information when responding to public complaints made via City Hall’s reporting program, Traffy Fondue. He claimed that periodic re-inspections may be carried out to make sure the issues were appropriately resolved.
After each problem has been fixed, the BMA is developing an app to collect people suggestions.
City Hall may also consult with the appropriate organizations to choose whether to modify the materials used for manhole covers or switch to a lock system. To provide real-time manhole cover status reports, an artificial intelligence ( AI ) system might be added.
Close construction sites, warning signs for every hole, tube properly, and other similar constructions must also be installed.
In areas with a high risk of theft, SAPT Pongsathonwiboon, MEA assistant governor, reported plans to replace steel manhole covers with ultra-high-performance concrete ( UHPC ) in areas.