2-8-2023 (BANGKOK) The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) have taken action to clear rubbish along rail tracks near Phaya Thai after a concerned Japanese netizen posted pictures of a Kiha-183 train passing through what appeared to be a dump site in the area. The train had been donated by Japan to serve tourists in Bangkok.
The Twitter user, @tabinezumiworld, posted the picture on Sunday, accompanied by a message highlighting the stark contrast between wealth and poverty in the city. In a follow-up comment, the netizen mentioned that homes had been recently demolished for a new elevated train line project in the same area.
最近立ち退き撤去されたパヤタイスラムを走るタイ国鉄 pic.twitter.com/cLcBwD3zBz
— 旅ねずみWorld (@tabinezumiworld) July 29, 2023
He further observed the presence of broken glass, pieces of concrete, and leftover food, expressing concern about the unsanitary conditions and the unpleasant odor emanating from the rubbish. The post gained traction on social media, being shared by the ThailandFootpath Facebook page, which has a significant following, and subsequently reported by various mass media outlets.
Responding to the public outcry, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt personally inspected the area on Tuesday. He explained that the piles of garbage were a consequence of the demolition of around 100 homes belonging to local communities living illegally along a 1.2km stretch of the track. The demolition had occurred last month to make way for the Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao high-speed rail route, but the rubbish had not been properly cleared afterward.
Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, the head of the SRT governor’s office, confirmed that a joint team of 30 personnel from SRT and BMA had been deployed to clean up the area. Heavy machinery, including a backhoe tractor and trucks, was used to remove and transport the waste. In addition, the SRT plans to erect a fence and “no trespassing” signs to prevent further intrusion and discourage illegal dumping.
