About 200 families living illegally by the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok will be relocated to pave the way for 14-kilometre-long riverside parks between Rama VII and Phra Pin Klao bridges.
Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on Friday that the houses illegally encroach on both banks of river, but would receive some compensation for their relocation.
He spoke to reporters after presenting initial details of the "New Landmark of Thailand" project to a committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
The project is based on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's idea to return the banks of the Chao Phraya to the public. Bicycle lanes, walkways and recreational fields will be built along seven kilometres of land on each side of the river, Gen Prawit and Bangkok's governor said.
"The parks will be about 20 metres wide from the riverbank. This is to provide general people with access to the river, just as big cities around have done to return such areas to the people to walk and cycle at," MR Sukhumbhand said.
A source said that no private property would be expropriated. Study, design, public hearings and the selection of a contractor would take 14 months and construction would be completed 18 months after.
Construction costs initially are estimated at 20 billion baht, but the final figure will depend on the project's design. MR Sukhumbhand said that the project would be completed as soon as possible.