Bangkok's big prisons may be moved

The land along Ngam Wong Wan Road may be too valuable to continue housing three of Bangkok's major prisons.

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An aerial photo shows Klongprem Prison. The Corrections Department is considering moving the facility from its present site on Ngam Wong Wan Road to make way for the construction of a Red Line railway station. Prisons along Ngam Wong Wan Road may be moved to make way for the Red Line electric railway, the Corrections Department says. THITI WANNAMONTHA

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Corrections chief mulls moving jails

King-oua Laohong

Prisons along Ngam Wong Wan Road may be moved to make way for the Red Line electric railway, the Corrections Department says.

Department chief Suchart Wonganantachai said yesterday the move was being considered following a meeting on Monday between Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and business figures.

Mr Kittiratt met property business figures in Bangkok to discuss the government's plan to develop areas along new electric rail routes.

Speaking at a seminar titled " Property – Economic Index in 2013," Mr Kittiratt used the example of Klongprem Central Prison, saying its area could be developed by the government and private companies for facilities serving the Red Line between Bang Sue and Rangsit in Pathum Thani, which is scheduled to begin operations next year.

There are three prisons on Ngam Wong Wan Road in the Lat Yao subdistrict of Chatuchak – Klongprem, Bangkok Remand Prison and the Women's Central Prison.

A closer view of Klongprem Prison. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Pol Col Suchart said the finance and justice ministries must consider whether relocating the prisons would disrupt inmates' detention periods or affect court jurisdictions.

He also wanted the Treasury Department, which owns the land on which the prisons are located, to clarify where the alternative prisons could be built and how their construction would be financed.

A committee comprising officers from the ministries will be set up to give answers within 15 days, he said.

The Thaksin Shinawatra administration in 2004 backed a plan to move Bangkok and Nonthaburi prisons outside the city to develop new commercial areas.

It also sought to convert part of Bangkok Remand Prison for use as a petrol station. However, the plan was dropped when the Corrections Department cited safety concerns over having a 24-hour petrol station in front of a prison.

aerial – (of a photograph) from a plane or helicopter ภาพถ่ายทางอากาศ
Corrections Department – the government department in charge of running prisons กรมราชทัณฑ์
consider – to give careful thought to something before making a decision พิจารณา
facility – a place, especially including buildings, where a particular activity happens
site – a place where something is located  สถานที่
mull – to think carefully about something over a period of time ครุ่นคิด
figure – an amount of money  จำนวนเงิน
route – the roads used to go from one place to another เส้นทาง
facilities – the buildings, equipment and services provided for a particular purpose
scheduled – planned to happen at a particular time or day ตามตารางเวลา
operations – the activity or work done in an area of business or industry ปฎิบัติการ
remand prison – a place where people are kept while they wait for the date of their trial สถานที่ขังระหว่างรอการพิจารณาคดี
consider – to give careful thought to something before making a decision พิจารณา
relocate – to move someone or something to another place โยกย้ายประชาชนออกจากบริเวณ
disrupt – to prevent something from continuing as usual or as expected ทำให้เสียกระบวน, ทำให้เสียระบบ, ทำให้สับสน
inmate – someone who is kept in a prison, mental hospital or other institution ผู้ถูกกักกัน, ผู้ถูกกักบริเวณในเรือนจำหรือโรงพยาบาล
detention period – the time that someone is required to spend in prison as a punishment
jurisdiction – a country or area in which a particular legal system operates ขอบเขตอำนาจที่ศาลและกฏหมายควบคุมไปถึง
Treasury Department – the government department in charge of overseeing government possessions, appraisimg real estate (property), and overseeing money production กรมธนารักษ์
clarify – to explain something more clearly so that it is easier to understand  แจกแจง   ชี้แจง
alternative – another choice ตัวเลือก / ทางเลือก
finance – to provide money for something จัดหาเงินทุนให้
comprise – to consist or be made up of two or more things ประกอบด้วย
administration – government รัฐบาล
back – to support สนับสนุน
commercial – for business purposes เกี่ยวกับการค้า
seek (past form: sought) – to try to obtain or achieve something พยายามได้มา
convert – to change an opportunity into a success, in this case, into goals
cite – to mention something as an example กล่าวถึง
concern – a worry ความกังวล