Bangkok’s new governor Chadchart Sittipunt identified four pressing issues that need to be addressed on his first day at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration head office.
Introducing his team during his first press conference after taking office Wednesday, the former transport minister said he would give immediate priority to the capital’s four main issues: road users’ and pedestrians’ safety, flooding, street food vendors, and the Green Line concession.
Governor Chadchart also unveiled the four deputies and nine advisors that make up his team.
Jakkapan Phiewngam, deputy governor to former Bangkok Governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang, is the capital’s deputy responsible for the budget and finances.
The second deputy is Wisanu Subsompon, a former professor at Chulalongkorn University’s engineering faculty, in charge of civil works and infrastructure development.
Tavida Kamolvej, former dean at Thammasat University’s political science faculty, is the third deputy and will work in disaster prevention.
The fourth and last deputy is Sanon Wangsrangboon, a Satarana civil society’s founder. He will be in charge of community development, non-governmental organizations coordination, and the environment.
The nine advisers included Sena Development Plc managing director Kessara Thanyalakpark as the main strategist, former Bangkok Councilor Wilawan Thammachar as political coordinator, engineer Torsak Chotimongkol, and former permanent secretary for defense Gen Nipat Thonglek.
Mr. Chadchart also named former Susco Plc senior executive Pimuk Simaroj as his secretary.
Moreover, Bangkok’s new governor said he would hold talks with Krungthep Thanakom, the City Council’s business unit, to address issues related to the Green Line before meeting with the Interior Ministry.
Earlier, the ministry proposed to extend the Bangkok Mass Transportation System Plc (BTSC) concession for another 30 years after its expiration in 2019 in exchange for the Skytrain operator paying a 38 billion baht debt to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
However, the Transport Ministry opposed the move, leaving the proposal stalled.
Mr. Chadchart said he expected to find a solution to such negotiations’ deadlock but clarified that he would work to separate the debt problem from the concession issue.
Nevertheless, it is known that the capital’s new governor opposes the extension, as it could delay returning the Skytrain’s control to the BMA.
