19 Sep, 2019
The government has made available 39,000 parking spaces in Bangkok for people wanting to watch the royal barge procession next month, according to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
People can park their vehicles and ride the mass transit system to where they pln to watch the Oct 24 royal barge procession featuring His Majesty the King. The procession is an extension of the King’s coronation ceremony in early May.
His Majesty will travel in a procession of 52 ceremonial boats to present monks with robes as part of a royal kathin ceremony.
Soldiers and police will provide security along the 1.2-kilometre procession route.
About 2,200 oarsmen will be involved in the elaborate procession, which will begin at Wasukri pier and end at Wat Arun Ratchawararam, better known as the Temple of Dawn.
Gen Prawit, who chairs the event committee, said on Wednesday that people can leave their vehicles on the day at carparks at Lat Phrao MRT station, the Attorney-General's Office, the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road and the Siam Commercial Bank headquarters. These locations have a combined parking capacity for 8,550 vehicles.
Other parking spaces will be set aside at Muang Thong Thani, the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road, the Thupatemee sports stadium, the Ikea stores in Bang Na and Bang Yai, Bitec Bang Na, Central department store on Rama 2, Central Westgate department store and MRT Purple Line station at Tha-it. The locations can handle 30,450 vehicles in total.
Gen Prawit said shuttle buses provided by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will be available free of charge between parking locations and train stations.
Kitchens will set up close to procession vantage points to provide food for spectators and medical units will be offering free check-ups.
The deputy prime minister said the Social Development and Human Security Ministry has been instructed to provide wheelchairs for the elderly.
He also said 16 security check-points will be established to screen people entering areas along the royal procession route.
"People will have a great opportunity to be close to His Majesty the King and view a time-honoured, one-of-a-kind tradition which is the royal barge procession," Gen Prawit said.
