BMA says construction and public utility problems are the root cause of constant digging.

Workers hired by City Hall repair a footpath near the JW Marriott Hotel in the Nana area. The restoration which took place in April has drawn criticism from netizens, who demanded officials clarify why they 'destroyed' the pavement, which is still in good condition.

Known for their wobbly surfaces and surplus of potholes -- not to mention seemingly endless reconstruction -- footpaths in Bangkok have always been on the receiving end of criticism and ridicule.

A group calling itself the "Klum Khon Thai Kho Thuang Khuen Thang Thao" -- a group of Thais who seek to reclaim pavements -- have challenged the BMA to provide answers.

In late April, the group used Facebook as a platform to criticise the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for demolishing the pavement in front of the JW Marriott on Soi Sukhumvit 2 in Klong Toey district.

On its Facebook page, the group asked why the BMA had to demolish pavements in the city just about every year.

"Why are footpaths that were built by private companies and given to the BMA which are still in good condition being demolished? Can anyone give us an explanation?" read a post on the group's page.

Sukhumvit pavement has been under perpetual construction, partly because different utility agencies install utility lines under the pavement. In the photo file is latest revamp on Sukhumvit Soi 8, where telecom agencies develop its cable lines.

In the latest post made in mid-May in which the group questioned the endless pavement repair on Phahon Yothin Road between the Saphan Kwai and Sanam Pao area. The group criticised the BMA's use of asphalt instead of tile-decorated pavement.

The group's questions regarding the BMA's repairs reflect what many other residents of the capital have long been wondering.

Which department of the BMA is responsible for these seemingly frequent pavement repair? Who actually decides which pavements need to be repaired or rebuilt and why?

Sakchai Boonma, director of the Public Works Department of the BMA, said Bangkok has a total of more than 6.8 million square metres of pavements -- approximately 1,300 kilometres in length.

Pavements along the sois and minor roads are under the care of each of Bangkok's 50 district offices, except for certain pavements constructed on private land, he said.

One of spoilers of the city's pavement's surface has been motorcycle taxi that have occupied pavement area as part of their queue, or even riding on it. The City Administration and traffic polices have tried to arrest them, with little achievement.

In particular, pavements under the department's care are the responsibility of six construction and repair centres, he added.

Every 15 days, the centres' engineering technicians are sent out to inspect pavements to find out if any are broken and assess how serious the damage is.

If a pavement requires fixing, a repair team will be dispatched.

Besides regular pavement inspection, the centres also handle complaints regarding broken pavements, which are usually submitted through BMA's No.1555 hotline.

Most of the complaints concern broken manhole covers, road drain covers and concrete slabs.

"The main reason Bangkok's pavements require continuous repair is due to the city's natural process of sinking every year coupled with constant construction of infrastructure for condominiums and transport upgrades such as rail networks," he said.

Moreover, the work of other agencies in repairing the city's public utility network, such as electricity and water systems, requires frequent digging into pavements, which adds to the need for pavement repair.

"That's why the BMA's repair of pavements may appear too frequent to observers. Some may even suspect the constant work is a ploy to burn the taxpayer's money."

Pedestrians walk past a pavement space cordoned off as cables are left protruding infront of Chuvit Garden on Sukhumvit Road in Klong Toey area. A message left at the site says a utility agency is in the process of fixing this. The scene has drawn fierce criticism online.

The repairs happen all the time because damage keeps occurring here and there, such as when underground water pipes break, which requires the department to dig into the pavement first to start repairs.

Last but not least, another scourge is motorcycles which drive on pavements without consequence or cars which unlawfully use the pavement as an impromptu parking lot. These not only degrade the pavements further but can also cause damage to water pipes underneath.