Sukhumbhand Unveils plans

Ranking high on the list are bolstering the city's economy, reviving tourism, allowing street stalls to operate seven days a week, expanding green areas, and boosting the quality of city-run schools to be on par with prestigious demonstration schools.

"I will also visit each district of Bangkok so that I know about local problems first-hand," Sukhumbhand said at a meeting.

It was the first meeting of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) executives chaired by Sukhumbhand as Bangkok governor.

Sukhumbhand won the gubernatorial election earlier this month. His fellow Democrat, Apirak Kosayodhin, was the former governor.

"I will continue with Apirak's policies but there will be some review of the mass-transport system," Sukhumbhand said.

The governor said BMA will have to talk to the central government about the Skytrain extension of the Onnut-Bearing route because the project stretched up to Samut Prakan.

"I also believe that the mass-transport systems operated by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority should come under the BMA," he said.

On the environment, Sukhumbhand hoped the capital would see some 5,000 more rai of its land growing greenery.

"We may lease some unused land plots for this purpose," he said.

Health officials in Suphan Buri spray anti-bird flu chemicals in an area which is habitat of open-billed storks to prevent spreading of bird flu disease. The province is popular among the birds.