TWO top universities yesterday stressed the “Chao Phraya For All” concept in a bid to manage |criticism over the Chao Phraya promenade project.

Staff from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL) and Khon Kaen University also explained seven “misunderstandings” about the project, which the two institutes were hired to design and study data about for the project.

Asst Prof Dr Antika Sawadsri told a press conference yesterday about the project’s objectives and benefits that people would enjoy under this “Chao Phraya For All” concept.

“The aim is to develop the Chao Phraya riverside area, recapture the river’s quality, and boost community people’s participation to prevent damages to the area’s characteristics and charm,” she said. “The project will benefit everyone, as they would be able to equally access to the river.”

“Our initial study found that only 28 per cent of people can now actually access the river, regardless of river transport, while 78 per cent of the riverside area is reportedly occupied by the private sector such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centres. So, this project will increase people’s access to the river.”

Other benefits cited were helping to prevent flooding, the creation of a connected “boat-bus-rail” transport system and expanding space for recreation in the urban area.

Antika said groups like Friends of the River (FOR) had spread wrong information about the project, and caused public misunderstanding. So she clarified seven points. She said graphic images of a 19.5- and 15-metre wide concrete road with pillars along the river were untrue, as no actual plan has been done for construction. They were waiting until information had been gathered and in-depth research done for the project. Those pictures were created by FOR.

Antika stressed that the project would include participation by affected residents and related agencies while specialists from various fields (such as landscape architecture, the environment, law and history) were involved in the project construction and design, not just engineers.

She affirmed KMITL would try its best to do effective research on 31 affected communities in Bang Sue, Phra Nakhon, Bang Phlat and Dusit districts over seven months.

Antika said talk of a Bt14 billion budget, previously revealed to the public reportedly for the building of a 14km path, as untrue because KMITL has not set any budget yet.

“Now, KMITL has just taken charge to research, consult and design for the project. There is no construction at this time,” she said.

Worapoj Budlop, head of Wat Conception village, backed the project.

“This is a good project to improve landscape for the communities and encourage people to exercise like biking and walking. So the government won’t have to invest a lot of budget to cure people’s ailing health and thus able to spend taxpayers’ money on national development in other segments instead.

“I think the government is addressing the root issues,” he said.

The design for a 7km stretch on both sides of the river from Rama VII Bridge to Phra Pin-Klao Bridge would be done in seven months. The budget for research and planning by KMITL is reportedly set at Bt120 million and will cover communities within the affected area.