City Hall has given vendors at Khlong Thom Market two more months to relocate to new sites in the Uruphong and Chong Nonsi areas.
City Hall has given vendors at Khlong Thom Market two more months to relocate to new sites in the Uruphong and Chong Nonsi areas. (Photo by Pawat Ladphaisarntaksin)
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration previously announced it would close the market, known for its sales of cheap electronics products, on Dec 27 as part of its pavements-cleanup campaign.
The postponement was made after talks between a chief adviser to Bangkok governor Wanlop Suwandee and about 100 vendors who had gathered in front of City Hall to protest the BMA's planned ouster.
Mr Wanlop said vendors asked the BMA to allow them to sell in the area for another six months to one year. The BMA said it could immediately extend the deadline for the relocation for another two months.
As for whether the deadline could be extended further, Mr Wanlop said he would have to discuss it with other concerned agencies, BMA executives and the government.
Mr Wanlop earlier said relocation was necessary because thousands of street vendors had blocked both the pavements and several roads around the market, causing a traffic bottleneck.
Khlong Thom also has become a black market for illegal products backed by mafia bosses, he added.
BMA adviser Vichai Sangparpai said he expected City Hall to decide whether to accept the Khlong Thom vendors' plea in about a month.