Chatree Wattanakhejon is a senior official with Bangkok’s municipal authorities and he told local reporters that more than 100 stallholders had been given their marching orders. He explained that these vendors operated their stalls on public footpaths and had until 8 March to vacate their plots.
Wattanakhejon continued by saying that another 576 vendors had permits for stalls on the street, but there were being revoked. The municipality has already announced alternate venues for the market-traders, but most do not want to move as they say the new locations are not attractive and won’t pull in customers.
The three new market venues are Kuuk Kuk Tha, Bang Kapi and Soi Phetchaburi 29. Pratunam Market is renowned among Thais as the finest place in the country to buy quality fashion at affordable prices. Pratunam is the latest to be targeted by Bangkok officials in an ongoing campaign to clean up the city and return its roads and footpaths to the public.
Axe comes down on yet another Bangkok street market
News in Asia
Bangkok authorities are in the process of wiping another one of the city’s popular street markets from the face of the earth. This time, the target is the Pratunam fashion and clothing market in the central Ratchathewi District of the Thai capital.