Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered military units in Bangkok to allow motorists to drive through their compounds in a bid to ease traffic congestion.
The 1st Infantry Regiment is expected to be the first unit to open its gates for motorists during rush hours after traffic woes have been worsened by the construction of the mass-transit system.
Gen Prawit said the military units most likely to be open their premises to motorists are those located in areas where traffic is heavy.
Currently, the 1st Infantry Regiment, located between Phahon Yothin Road and Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, allows motorists who are registered with pass cards to use its compound as a shortcut.
However, the motorists are permitted to use designated routes only as the compound also houses the residences of key government figures including Gen Prawit and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) may have to forcibly appropriate 80 plots of land to facilitate construction of a 3.2km road to link Charan Sanitwong Road to Buddha Monthon Sai 4 in Nakhon Pathom to ease traffic congestion in the area.
Bangkok deputy governor Chakkraphan Phewngam said the plots are required for the stretch between Buddha Monthon Sai 2 and Buddha Monthon Sai 3.
Construction of the eight-lane route is estimated at 1.54 billion baht and is expected to start next year, he said.
However, the BMA is still negotiating with the residents living on the designated route and it has allocated a budget of 90 million baht for their relocation.
He said if an agreement cannot be reached amicably, the BMA will have to issue a land appropriation decree, which may delay the construction project further.
"The City Hall is holding talks with the residents to explain the need for them to relocate. If they don't relocate voluntarily, City Hall will be forced to issue a decree to appropriate their land. If this is the case, the fund allocation will have to be put on hold too," he said.
According to Mr Chakkraphan, a total of 387 plots of land are required to be appropriated for the entire project.
He said once the road linking Charan Sanitwong road to Buddha Monthon Sai 4 is completed, it will help ease traffic on Boromratchonnanee Road and Phetkasem Road.
The first 7km first section of the road, from Charan Sanitwong road to Buddha Monthon Sai 2 Road, has already been opened to motorists and significantly alleviated traffic during rush hours, Mr Chakkraphan said.
