The Royal Thai Navy, whose headquarters include the Thonburi Palace, has confirmed its landscape improvement project will not affect ancient remains and objects.
The 50-million-baht project involves temporarily moving the navy chief's command to the Nantha-uttayan Palace nearby during the six-month renovation.
The assurance came after online communities raised a concern about 1-2 metres of the front wall will be demolished to build a parade field and a new entrance.
Secretary Rear Adm Karn Dee-ubon said the navy had been using the compound for a long time and become attached to it.
"We have renovated and taken good care of the structures regularly. They are invaluable ancient remains which must be preserved for posterity," he said.
The admiral also said in improving the landscape, the navy took into consideration these aspects and invited officials from the Fine Arts Department.
"Please be convinced the Royal Thai Navy will never destroy our ancient remains and objects which are national assets," he stressed.
He also said the navy was willing to accept more queries at 02-475-5739.
Located on the west side of the Chao Phraya River near the Temple of the Dawn, the Thonburi Palace or Phra Racha Wang Derm is the former royal palace of King Taksin, who ruled with Thonburi as the capital following the fall of Ayutthaya era in 1767 until the establishment of Rattanakosin era in 1782. It later served as the residence of several high-ranking members of the Chakri Dynasty until 1900 when the palace became the site of the Royal Thai Naval Academy.