Bangkok to Rein in Illegal Billboards

Photo: Matichon

BANGKOK — Large and small, they lean from every perch in the capital city, but now City Hall vows to enforce regulations on the innumerable advertisements found in public spaces.

Part of its ongoing “reorganization” of Bangkok that has cleared out street markets and phone booths, city officials vowed Thursday to get rid of all the illegal advertisements and reorganize 74,000 existing ads, from small signs to enormous LED screens.

Doing so will be achieved through enforcement of the 37-year-old Building Control Act. Ads installed without permission must be removed while the owners must regularly monitor the strength of their banners.

Advertisement

The main problem for the city are owners who stealthily put up such billboards or signs at night and then ignore orders to remove them, according to police Gen. Assawin Kwanmuang, a deputy Bangkok governor.

Advertisement

Another method, he said, is hiring people to walk along the sidewalk carrying placards.

Authorities said the policy will help protect pedestrians and beautify the roadways and city landscape.