Vendors protest eviction from Khlong Thom

Today was the deadline to clear the Khlong Thom market of unsanctioned vendors.

Police and soldiers fanned out through the famous market area this morning to clear pockets of resistance offered by street vendors who’d vowed to ignore the city’s effort to clear sidewalks around around Mahachak, Luang, Kamrob, Sukhum, Suapa, Yommarat-Sukhum, Charoen Krung roads and Worachak intersection. 

READ: Battle for Bangkok’s sidewalks heats up

Today marked the deadline announced in December by city officials for unauthorized sidewalk merchants to permanently leave the area.

Removing the vendors is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s bid to improve traffic and general congestion throughout the capital.

The new rules have hurt the livelihoods of many vendors, and the city has tried to balance its impact by creating new shopping “walking streets” at set times and locations for the chased-out vendors to set up shop.

However, these proposed locations have been rejected by the vendors as they are not convenient enough to draw customers and require payment of more expensive rent.

Today’s action was timed with the announcement of a revised list of proposed walking street locations.

Based on a successful pilot program held Sunday evenings along Silom Road, the six walking streets will open at Chaeng Wattana Road, Rama IX Bridge, Yaowarat Road, Khaosan Road, Soi Ramkamhaeng 24 and the Bang Khun Non Road.

Each will have specific emphases: The walking street on Chaeng Wattana Road will feature organic products, Rama IX Bridge will focus on “factory prize products,” Yaowarat Road will offer food from famous restaurants, Khaosan Road will sling OTOP merchandise, and Soi Ramkamhaeng 24 will offer manufactured goods and “community merchandise,” according to state media.

Vendors have proposed some of their own locations. The BMA has rejected a suggestion they be moved under the expressway at Urupong, as the land falls under the jurisdiction of the Expressway Authority of Thailand.

Photo: Thai PBS

Related:

5 more roads marked for weekly ‘walking streets’

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