Hua Hin beefs up security during Songkran Thai New Year

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, March 30 (TNA) - The Hua Hin municipality is confident in the public safety during the upcoming Songkran festival as the security is planned to be heightened and the town is equipped with additional surveillance cameras. Hua Hin municipality allocated the budget of 52 million baht to install high resolution CCTV surveillance cameras with high image quality and resolution at additional 450 spots, said the city clerk, Jirawat Prammanee. The move is to prevent any untoward incidents after Hua Hin resort town was hit by series of bombings in Aug 2016, which claims many casualties. The network of the existing CCTV cameras, covering the inner part of the city is linked to the Hua Hin police station. The zone, designated for the Songkran activities, including traditional splashing of water is secured with about 150 CCTV cameras of the tourist police and local authorities. Meanwhile, Pol Lt Col Pansa Amarapitak, Highway inspector said more than 200 highway police officials and volunteers have been prepared to facilitate holidaymakers, travelling on Phetkasem highways to 14 southern provinces. About 20 checkpoints will be set up to control speed limits and tourists will be guided to use detours to avoid traffic congestion on main roads. (TNA)