The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will go ahead with a plan to build a giant flood drainage tunnel from Don Muang area in northern Bangkok to the Chao Phraya river, according to Narong Ruangsrirong, director of the Drainage and Sewerage Department.
Mr Narong said the city administration is now in discussions with the Rural Highways Department and the State Railway of Thailand about draining water through the planned tunnel from Don Muang, Sai Mai and Chatuchak districts to either the Khlong Sung watergate in Bang Sue or the Khlong Bang Khen watergate and then discharging it into the Chao Phraya river.
Under the plan, the giant Don Muang tunnel along Prem Prachakorn canal will be built at an estimated cost of 6 billion baht to solve flooding problems in northern districts of Don Muang, Sai Mai and Chatuchak.
The city administration now has seven drainage tunnels with a total length of 19 kilometres and a capacity to drain water at 155.50 cubic metres per second.
A large drainage tunnel under Khlong Bang Sue canal is also under construction. Begun in late 2014, it is about 50% built with completion scheduled in mid-2016.