Sightseeing tower will be country's tallest structure

The Finance Ministry plans to build a 459 metre sightseeing tower on state land by the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok at an estimated cost of 4 billion baht.

A source at the ministry said on Monday the Treasury Department was studying the implementation of the plan. The tower would be a public-private partnership project.

It would be built on four rai of state land on Charoen Nakhon Soi 7 in Klong San district. At 459 metres it would be the country's tallest structure, with seven lower floors, a 26-storey tower and two basement levels. Its combined usable area would be 22,282 square metres.

The private sector would build the new tourist landmark under a 30 year land lease agreement. The top floor of the tower would be a hall to honour the kings of the Chakri Dynasty and exhibit the work of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The admission fee for foreigners would be set at 750 baht, and half that for Thai visitors. It was expected to bring in revenue of 1.05 billion baht per year.