Work on putting power, internet and cable wires underground for the entire length of Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok is expected to be completed by November, authorities said on Wednesday.
Metropolitan Electricity Authority governor Somchai Roadrungwasinkul said MEA officials had so far completed almost 90% of the work in the busy Sukhumvit Soi 24, where work started in April.
The remaining work would include cutting power supplies for an entire day to allow for the underground wires to be connected to the electricity grid. This would need to be arranged with businesses in the area.
Mr Somchai said the operation involved burying cables for a combined distance of 35 kilometres along Sukhumvit Road at a cost of 2.2 billion baht.
The MEA has set a target of burying all of the above ground wires in the capital -- over a total distance of about 260 kilometres -- over the next decade. The project is estimated to cost up to 140 billion baht.
As of April, a combined 40 kilometres of wiring had been laid underground, mostly in the main business districts of Silom, Phahon Yothin, Phaya Thai and Sukhumvit, as well as at Chitralada Palace.