Work on royal crematorium set to start early next month

The budget covers repair work for royal chariots that will also be used in the royal cremation.

The Princess passed away at the age of 84 on January 2. As the beloved sister of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and a great contributor to the country, her passing has left the whole country in mourning.

"The construction will begin next month," Fine Arts Department director-general Grienggrai Sumpatchalit said yesterday.

He said officials would start cordoning off the construction site between February 1 and February 15.

He said the structures for the royal cremation would occupy between 38 and 40 rai of Sanam Luang, leaving the rest of the space for other activities such as the celebration of Maka Bucha Day.

Grienggrai believed the construction would be completed by the end of September, or October 10 at the latest.

The structures include the royal crematorium, pavilions for monks to conduct praying rituals and for royal members to listen to the prayers, toilets, elevators, entertainment halls, temporary fences, decorative poles and pavilions for government officials to listen to the prayers.

He said His Majesty would decide when the royal cremation would take place. When asked to speculate, Grienggrai said: "It could be in October or early November".

Jidas Sornsongkram, the direct grandson of the Princess, has been recruited to the committee in charge of organising the royal cremation.

The Nation