Bangkok Residents Want the New Governor to Give Priority to Solving Traffic Problems

(27/01/2013)

All candidates for the upcoming Bangkok governor election are campaigning to win the hearts of Bangkok residents. A survey shows that 41 percent of Bangkok residents want the new governor to give priority to the solving of the traffic problem and the development of the city transport system. The survey was conducted by the NIDA Poll (National Institute of Development Administration) among 1,500 Bangkok residents. According to the survey, 16 percent of the respondents want the new governor to develop the mass rapid transit system to cover all major areas of the city. About 10 percent want the governor to tackle problems concerning crime and public safety, while 7 percent want the governor to focus on easing such environmental problems as garbage and air, water, and noise pollution. About 5 percent are calling on the new governor to develop the local economy in order to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness in preparation of the ASEAN Community in 2015. Other issues include the improvement of Bangkok’s image on political disturbances and social problems. The next gubernatorial election will take place on Sunday, 3 March 2013 in all 50 districts of the city. It was called following the resignation of M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, one day before the completion of his four-year term of Bangkok Governor. Unlike a general election, no advance voting will be conducted in the Bangkok governor election. Out of the 5.67 million Bangkok residents, 4.3 million are eligible to vote. A total of 25 candidates registered to contest the Bangkok Governor election during the candidacy registration period between 21 and 25 January 2013. Many of them are running independently and do not represent political parties. The Bangkok Governor is empowered to establish policies, supervise, and control all functions undertaken by officials and employees of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and enforce the city’s bylaws. This authority does not include the handling of several public utilities, such as electricity, waterworks, telephones, and expressways. In Bangkok, there are two electric train systems for commuters: the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), or the skytrain, and the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), or the subway, which facilitate mass transfer with great efficiency. Plans exist to extend these urban rail mass transit systems to reduce traffic congestion. Many people come from all parts of the country to Bangkok in search of education and employment opportunities. The most populated city in Thailand, Bangkok is growing continually. Since it is the center of the economy and tourism, with a huge mass of people living and commuting, expressways and mass transit systems have been expanding to solve traffic problems. The city boasts a diverse transport system, connecting function areas and convention centers, sufficient to accommodate tourists and conventioneers. It is a challenging job for the new Bangkok Governor to handle this “City of Angles,” with its many faces, problems, and charms.