Bangkok electrical cable to go underground

BANGKOK, September 5 (TNA) -- In an attempt to beautify the Thai capital on the approach of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), due to be launched at end-2015, the state-run Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has started switching to underground cable from the overhead line, said MEA governor Somchai Roadrungwasinkul. Mr Somchai said the cabinet on September 1 gave an approval to MEA to lay the underground power cable for a total distance of 261.6 kilometres in Bangkok with total investment of 143 billion baht. He said the objectives of switching are to cater for the rising demand of electricity in future as well as conserving environment and boosting safety to property and people’s lives. So far the MEA has already laid underground electrical wire with total distance of 35 kilometres out of the total with an investment of 2.2 billion baht, he said. MEA is now undertaking the underground power cable with the distance of 53.3 kilometres covering investment of 15 billion baht, said Mr Somchai. Upon completion, the ‘City of Angels’ would offer a better scenery, he added. (TNA)