BANGKOK: Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has proposed closing Bangkok Port and redeveloping its Khlong Toei site as a casino-free entertainment complex, saying the country should not operate two major cargo ports simultaneously.
Phiphat announced the proposal after inspecting the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) and issuing operational guidelines to the state enterprise.
He said operating both Bangkok Port and Laem Chabang Port required unnecessary public spending on personnel, management and other resources.
Bangkok Port’s location in the capital also created logistics and traffic problems, as large numbers of lorries had to travel into the city, Phiphat said. At the same time, large cargo vessels were increasingly unlikely to use the port.
He therefore proposed eventually ending operations at Bangkok Port and redeveloping the 2,353-rai site for other uses, including a casino-free entertainment complex.
The Transport Ministry and PAT will consult residents of Khlong Toei communities who could be affected by the proposal.
Phiphat said that if port operations could be relocated, the entire site should be redeveloped to deliver the greatest possible benefit to the public.
Under a preliminary plan, 20% of the site would be allocated for housing and facilities for local residents. The 2,353-rai site covers about 376.5 hectares in total.
“The Bangkok Port development plan must provide new housing for more than 40,000 people, or about 12,600 households, together with comprehensive facilities, including residential buildings, public parks, playgrounds, schools, childcare centres and a community hospital, to improve the quality of life of people in the area,” Phiphat said.
PAT has previously studied the redevelopment of the Bangkok Port site. Its most recent cited study, completed in 2019, covered the entire 2,353-rai area.
The study proposed a mixed-use commercial development, a Smart Community housing project for Khlong Toei residents and a cruise terminal to support tourism.
The master plan, valued at more than 100 billion baht, divided the site into five development areas.
Area A was designated for a new PAT headquarters, privately leased office buildings, housing projects, a medical hub, additional office space, a Smart Community, welfare housing for PAT employees, rental housing and mixed-use retail developments.
Area B was planned to accommodate a semi-automated Smart Port, an eastern container terminal and a coastal cargo terminal.
Area C would feature a cruise terminal, mixed-use retail and commercial developments, office buildings, duty-free retail space, a hotel, a parking building, a training centre, an exhibition centre and a utilities building.
Area X was earmarked for warehouses, e-commerce offices, lorry parking and land leased by PTT, while Area G was planned for a sports complex and public park.
