WITH PREPARATIONS underway for the succession to the throne and royal cremation, authorities are making maximum efforts to prepare for the hundreds of thousands of mourners who plan to pay their respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday visited the operations command centre at Sanam Luang. He told officers to provide special care to children, the elderly and disabled, as well as people who lose their way and other special cases.
Prayut said he was content with the overall management, as were many visitors to the area. The number of black-clad mourners has continued to increase.
Authorities have not yet announced plans for the upcoming long weekend from Saturday to Monday, when hundreds of thousands of people are expected to enter the Grand Palace compound.
They have updated national police chief Pol General Chaktip Chaijinda about the operational plans. Police officers have been assigned to ensure public safety around the Grand Palace. Public can direct questions about transportation to the Grand Palace to hotline numbers 1197, 191, and 1111.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau would arrange vans to provide free transportation from Victory Monument, MBK Centre and Wong Wian Yai from 8am to 4pm, the police chief said. The Marine Police Division has prepared passenger boats to provide transportation since yesterday.
The Police General Hospital has arranged mobile medical services in the vicinity of the Grand Palace. It has already assisted more than 40,000 people.
The Army has assigned psychological operations units to explain guidelines to people in the Sanam Luang area, according to Army deputy spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong.
The First Army Area and the Quartermaster Department has arranged two water trucks and four food trucks, which are expected to prepare 8,000 meals per day to serve visitors in front of Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus.
Another food and medical unit will be available in front of the Territorial Defence Command on Charoen Krung Road to serve up to 1,000 people from 8am to 10pm. Parking lots will be able to accommodate up to 100 cars starting at 4pm until next Thursday.
The BMA, meanwhile, has arranged four shuttle buses, two trams and two double-decker London-style buses to provide transportation to Sanam Luang from Suan Santiporn Park, Democracy Monument, Phan Fa, Sky High restaurant, City Pillar Shrine, the Suan Chao Chet building, the World War I Monument and the Tourism Department. The Interior Ministry is preparing logistical facilities starting on October 28, when the late King’s royal urn will be displayed for public homage at Dusit Maha Prasat Hall.
According to Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, the ministry will cooperate with police in organising public transportation in provincial areas. The ministry will also prepare government buildings, temples and tents for people to rest in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

Steps to the throne
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to clarify the procedures on the succession to the throne to clear up confusion in minds of the public and the international community. The ministry would make clear that the succession and cremation involve three steps, he said. Step one would be the succession to the throne, which would happen soon. Step two would be the royal cremation, which would take place within a year. Step three would be the coronation of the heir to the throne, which would take place within a specified period after the cremation.