1Suphan Buri has a tower, as do major cities around the world such as Paris, New York and Shanghai -- tall structures for the public to catch a panoramic view of the city landscape.
Interestingly, Bangkok has never had one and it is surprising that the military government's initiative to develop the Bangkok Observation Tower drew as much criticism as it did.
The news surfaced in July when the cabinet approved the project to be built in the Klong San area of Thon Buri. The 4.62-billion-baht observatory tower is to be 459-metres tall and will stand on a four-rai public plot belonging to the Treasury Department in Charoen Nakhon Soi 7, next to the Chao Phraya River.
The department would earn 70 million baht in fees from a 30-year land lease. The project will be developed by the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation.
Despite being registered in 2014 as a non-profit entity, the Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation was originally chaired by Visit Malaisirirat, CEO of the Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Co, the property development arm of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group.
The foundation's directors include representatives from Siam Piwat Co, the operator of the Siam Centre and Siam Discovery. The observation tower will stand close to Iconsiam, a high-end property jointly developed by Magnolia, Siam Piwat and CP group. Bangkok's first Observation Tower is expected to become more controversial next year as the public has started to question who really stands to benefit.
