Cabinet backs plan for 'airport province'
The Cabinet yesterday approved
a landmark bill to found the Suvarnabhumi Metropolitan Area as the 77th province of Thailand
to oversee Suvarnabhumi Inter-national Airport and its surrounding areas.
Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said ap-proval from a new government was needed before the bill could be scrutinised and endorsed by Parliament. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier scheduled September 28 as the opening date for the much-awaited airport. August 29 has been set for the first landing of commercial airliners with passengers. Caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana said tourist attractions and shopping areas with Otop (One Tambon, One Product) merchandise would be available in the airport compound and nearby areas for foreign tourists. The Suvarnabhumi Metro- politan Area will initially be set up as a special administrative body covering Bangkok's Lat Krabang and Prawet districts as well as Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district and Bang Sao Thong subdistrict. To begin with, the body will be supervised directly by the prime minister or a selected deputy, while a 10-member governing body is set up to oversee it. Officials within the four district offices are being invited to join the body on a voluntary basis. The entire metropolitan area will cover 521.7 sq km, including 176 sq km currently belonging to the two Bangkok districts, and an additional 345 sq km area that is part of Samut Prakan.
Piyanart Srivalo The Nation
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