The Bangkok governor on Monday boasted that an end is in sight to the capital's chronic annual flood problems with the construction of a second pair of underground water banks set to be completed within the next two years.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) chief Aswin Kwanmuang said the project was initiated in 2018 when construction of the first two of the four underground retention tanks began, with the aim of building four in total with the capacity to contain the runoff from up to 100 millimetres of rainfall each day.
The retention tanks target four particularly flood-prone areas across Bangkok and will help alleviate damage to property and the economy caused by inundation, as well as traffic congestion.
Two of the four -- in Rachvipa and Srinagarindra with a capacity to hold 10,000 cubic metres (m³) of water -- were opened in a ceremony presided over by Pol Gen Aswin on Monday.
Rachvipa retention tank is located under a flyover on Ratchadaphisek Road near Vibhavadi junction in Chatuchak district.
A 1.80-metre wide drainage pipe has been constructed to connect with the main sewer system to hold excess runoff from Ratchadaphisek Road before it is discharged safely into Chao Phraya River.
In Bang Kapi district, Srinagarindra retention tank is located under an interchange between Srinagarindra and Krung Thep Kritha Roads.
Excess runoff will be kept in the tank and then discharged into the public canal to alleviate inundation issues stretching from Lam Sali and Krung Thep Kritha Intersections to Klong Kacha canal and adjacent areas, he said.
Aside from the two newly opened retention tanks, the third will be located under Bang Khen roundabout with a capacity to hold 1,000 m³ of water, while the fourth is being constructed under Asok-Din Daeng Road near Soi Sutthiphon 2 and will be able to hold 1,200 m³ of water.