BMA denies selling car park

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has sought to quell controversy over the underground parking facility at Lan Khon Mueang, firmly denying claims the site has been sold or transferred to private ownership.

Supharerk Huthaisong, director of the Secretariat Office of the Permanent Secretary of the BMA, said on Thursday that the decision to allow a private operator to manage the underground car park is intended to improve efficiency and expand public access, not to privatise state assets.

The parking facility, located beneath the Lan Khon Mueang plaza in front of Bangkok City Hall on Dinsor Road in Phra Nakhon district, has long been underutilised, he said.

Under the revised model, the operator will manage the facility outside official working hours, increasing parking availability in the Old Town area and helping reduce illegal roadside parking and traffic congestion.

Mr Supharerk stressed the arrangement is a time-bound management concession, with the BMA retaining full ownership and regulatory authority.

The project complies with the BMA Property Ordinance BE 2538 (1995) and was approved by relevant committees, he added.

Earlier this week, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said visitors can now park their cars at the parking lot under Lan Khon Muang outside City Hall’s operating hours. 

While the area is popular with tourists, Phra Nakhon district suffers from insufficient parking space, especially on weekends and public holidays, Mr Chadchart said.

The two-storey underground car park can take 500 vehicles, and is open to visitors from 6pm to 6am on weekdays and 24 hours at weekends and national holidays. The car park is monitored by security guards and has 66 toilets.