Giant tunnels to ease Bangkok flood risk
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Giant tunnels to ease Bangkok flood risk
By Jeerawan Prasomsap
The Nation
Published on November 12, 2010
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Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paripatra yesterday unveiled a fiveyear plan to invest Bt16 billion to build four giant drainage tunnels to tackle the city’s flood problems.
“They will be like underground highways for floodwater to reach the Chao Phraya River and the sea with the speed of draining four standardsize swimming pools in one second,” said Sukhumbhand.
As Bangkok is located in a bowlshaped area facing the northern runoff of water flowing to the Gulf of Thailand, it is often flooded due to clogged drainage systems.
The city decided to build the four giant tunnels to increase their flood draining capacity from 90 cubic metres per second to 240 cubic metres.
With these four tunnels added to the existing system, the city will drain floodwater faster than it has in the past 25 years especially from repeatedly flooded areas such as Srinakarin and Ramkhamhaeng 2 roads, Sukhumbhand said.
He also affirmed there was no need for land expropriation as the tunnels, each of about fivemetre radius, would be built deep underground.
First, the 5kilometrelong Rama IXRamkhamhaeng tunnel will cost Bt2 billion and should be completed by next January. It will help drain water at 60 cubic meters per second from Klong Lat Phrao and Klong Saen Saeb to the Chao Phraya River. This tunnel was formerly known as Klong San SaebLat Phrao tunnel and work began in 2001. It was the centre of corruption allegations in July 2008 with a Japanese firm ‘s claim it had paid Thai officials Bt125 million for “favours” in connection with the contract.
The second, third and fourth tunnels are due for completion in five years.
The second, the Bt2.5 billion RatchadapisekSutthisan tunnel, will be subject of an eauction next month and work should begin next year. This 6km tunnel, starting from Ratchadapisek and Sutthisan roads to the Chao Phraya River, will drain water from Huai Kwang, Din Daeng, Chatuchak, Phrayathai, Dusit and Bang Sue areas.
Third, the 6metreradius 13.5km Don Muang tunnel will drain from Chatuchak, Lak Si, Bang Khen, Don Muang and some parts of Sai Mai with a capacity 15 times greater than Bangkok’s first drainage tunnel in Sukhumvit, built 25 years ago.
Fourth, the 9.5km Bt4.9 billion Suan Luang Rama IX tunnel (Nong Beaung BonChao Phraya) is in the process of getting Interior Ministry approval, as it is an adjusted version of the previous 3km Nong Beaung BonKlong Prawet tunnel. It would drain water from Prawet, Phra Khanong, Bang Na and Suan Luang at 60cm per second.
