Resistance to the setting up of a new province called Nakhon Suvarnabhumi in the new airport region has come under fire by many groups, among them the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

Sadly, the government-backed proposal suffers terribly from poor introduction and a stark inability to articulate why the project is so vital. That blunder alone should be sufficient for the ruling party to relinquish it if not for the fact that the alternatives are so uninspiring.

But reasons for the objections to constructing a most crucial urban project for the country appear largely parochial. If only its advocates could have spent more time to deliver a clear, concise and coherent plan, even the most politically incensed fanatic would accept its merits.

To be sure, some of the criticisms are well founded. After all, any enlargement of government and the creation of another bloated arm of the civil service means huge expense and new taxes.

It is justifiable, however, if it will bring in 10 times, perhaps 10 times the original capital. Not only would land prices benefit, but consider the industries, jobs and resources it would produce.

Nakhon Suvarnabhumi suffered because it was proposed by the Thai Rak Thai government. As such, it drew objections from rival politicians and people who have little to gain if the ruling party looks competent.

Yet upon closer examination, its principles are quite sound.

The reality is this: currently much of Bangkok is so poorly administered that it would be foolish to say the Suvarnabhumi zone does not require improvement.

Just the traffic congestion, poor communications network and pollution woes over the past decade show relevant authorities are unable to cope, much less face the challenges of the near future.

For example, if residents in nearby Phra Khanong district today need a fixed-line Internet connection, the Telephone Organisation of Thailand informs them they need to wait not weeks or a month but several months!

At a time when fast-speed technology rules global business, Bangkok cannot afford to be the only financial city that is out of touch with the rest of Asia.

Nakhon Suvarnabhumi seeks to cover the districts Lat Krabang and Prawes of Bangkok and Bang Sao Thong and Bang Phli of Samut Prakan province, an area of 521 square kilometres with about 462,000 residents.

The size is modest and not too ambitious. What is wonderful about it is that the idea offers Bangkok a new lease of life. If the quality of life in Nakhon Suvarnabhumi proves better than in the old capital, key infrastructure could be relocated there so that the country's business lifeline can grow without being hampered by inefficiency and wasted time.

This possibility is vital and comes at a critical stage when Thailand faces twin pressures from China and India. These two rivals have in the past few years eclipsed the importance of the Kingdom in the eyes of investors.

At the same time, neighbours like Vietnam are quickly catching up and also positioning themselves to grab a piece of the investment pie that Thailand once commanded.

At the same time, it is no secret that places like Qatar and Dubai have already completed urban projects like Nakhon Suvanabhumi to tap global capital.

Unless quick action is taken by Thailand now to compete by creating equally advanced infrastructure, the country stands a good chance of its once vibrant economy deteriorating further.

The Nakhon Suvarnabhumi proposal was announced in October last year, with a draft bill approved by the Cabinet earlier this month.

According to the bill, in the first four years the province will be run by a governor appointed by the Interior Ministry, supervised by a 30-member administrative board chaired by the prime minister.

After the four years the administrative board will be dissolved, though the final administrative structure of the province is not yet set. It is planned for it to become a special administrative zone, probably with an elected governor like Bangkok. A final bill is to be expected after the end of the current political crisis.

Understandably, the BMA is uneasy about the plan as it stands to lose credibility should the project work.

What the government needs to do is garner support, even from the BMA. For the megalopolis to work, it cannot exclude key factions. The creation of this new satellite city deserves the participation of capable leaders and professionals.

Itthi C Tam

The Nation