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Road conditions drive seafood restaurants out of business
Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 11 June 2007 :-
Road conditions drive seafood restaurants out of business
Dreadful road conditions around the Bang Khunthian-Chai Thalay road are driving seafood restaurants and other shops in the area commonly known as the ''Sea of Bangkok'' out of business.
Located on the Thon Buri side of the river, and only an hour's drive from downtown Bangkok, Bang Khunthian district used to be a hot destination for seafood lovers, where you could buy fresh seafood at reasonable prices.
A guided boat tour to explore local mangroves and wildlife through a network of canals that open into the Gulf of Thailand has also been quiet in recent months.
Since last year, a large number of seafood restaurants have closed down, along with outlets selling fresh seafood.
Road construction is underway, and soil-laden trucks travel back and forth to housing estate construction sites, pitting the road with holes and filling the air with dust and noise.
Many developers are hoping to tap into expected future demand in the area after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched a 700-million-baht project to renovate the 11.5km road connecting Rama II road and Khlong Tapae bridge.
But for now, the road is dotted with large craters and covered in dust.
''I feel sorry for the students. They have to hold on to their seats when they take a songthaew to school. It is worse for pillion-riding students when motorcycle riders zigzag to avoid the holes in the road,'' said a sweet vendor who gave her name only as Somwang.
''They arrive at schools with red hair and covered in dust.''
Suchart Chai-arun, former chief of the Sriguman community, said: ''The road is bumpy even when it's not yet rainy season. There are only trucks travelling. Other types of vehicles are rarely seen.''
Manas Sakthong, manager of the Ao Kraban Seafood restaurant, said daily takings had dropped from 200,000 to 50,000 baht.
Only regular clients braved the bumpy road to eat there, because others fear the road will ruin their cars, he said.
''My complaint submitted to Governor Apirak [Kosayodhin] went unheeded. The district office passed my complaint to the contractors. It all comes down to the public to bear the brunt,'' said Mr Manas.
Another store owner, who gave his name only as Pai and runs one of the remaining five seafood outlets, admitted his seafood selection has shrunk as the poor state of the road is keeping customers away.
A BMA source said the road project, which started in January, is due to be completed in 720 days.
The second phrase of the project, stretching 3.5km from Khlong Tapae bridge to Khlong Pittayalongkorn school, will be put up for auction this month.
''The livelihoods of the public should improve after the road project is completed. There will be no more floods in the rainy season.'' the source said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork
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