This multi-billion-baht project to build a promenade along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok will clear encroachers from public land and improve the riverside landscape, say advocates. Critics, however, are worried about the project’s impact.

The project’s assistant manager and spokeswoman, Asst Prof Dr Antika Sawasri, who also works at the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Latkrabang (KMITL), yesterday assured the planned walkway and related work would not destroy the Cultural Landscape of Chao Phraya River’s chance to become a World Heritage Site. Together with the Khon Kaen University, KMITL is the project’s consultant.

“One day we hope that the Chao Phraya River will appear on Unesco’s World Heritage list. So we want to create a firm foundation for it. We hope our project will be a contributor,” Antika said.

The Fine Arts Department has planned to put the Cultural Landscape of the Chao Phraya River on the tentative list for the World Heritage sites, assigning the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to work in support of the plan.

According to Antika, the Chao Phraya for All Project will not hamper the plan – but rather complement it.

Speaking at a press conference on the project’s updates, she insisted the project had studied information from all sides and taken into account how the project’s nearby communities are rich in culture and history.

She believed that each riverside community had its own story and identity – something worth conserving for future generations.

“So in implementing our project, we aim to conserve them and increase the value of the river preparing it well to become a World Heritage Site,” Antika said.

Public participation in the project has improved significantly. She said its teams have already reached out to 33 communities. Locals in each community have talked to the teams twice. A third meeting will take place soon.

While Antika understood that some locals still opposed the project, she believed the opposition stemmed from misunderstanding.

“As we talk, there will be better understanding,” she added.

In term of the architectural progress, Dr Kamol Keatruangkamala, another assistant manager of the project, said the draft architectural master plan for the 57km length from Rama VII to Bang Kra Chao would probably be completed by July.

Assist Prof Krit Jedwanna, assistant manager of the project, said the construction meanwhile should be completed in mid-2018 as planned.