The landscaping project of Phadung Krung Kasem Canal in central Bangkok is expected to be completed towards the end of the year, just in time for the city’s winter festival, the Bangkok governor’s chief advisor Torsak Chotimongkol said on Thursday.

The project aims to provide more footpath space for pedestrians and tidy up vending zones along the 5.5km-long canal that runs through Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Pathum Wan and Dusit districts.

“Vendors will be put in designated zones and the canal-side areas will be public space or for special events only,” he said. “We hope that the city can host the winter festival here at the end of the year. There will also be a walking street, a bicycle path, and piers to accommodate those travelling by boat.”

Earlier, governor Chadchart Sittipunt said that Bangkok’s winter festival this year would span an area from Hua Lamphong station to Thewarat Market in Dusit district with light decorations, concerts, and activities along both sides of the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal.

“This part of town will be called the “Smart City” zone, a place where the landscape will have been improved but the spirit of local communities remains,” the governor said.

Torsak added that most of the vendors who had stalls on the banks of the canal had cooperated with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and agreed to move to a new place. The city is tearing down structures protruding into the canal.

“We negotiated with vendors to make sure that they understand the purpose of the project: To return public space to the people. Some of them agreed to move to the commercial buildings across the street,” he said, adding that the city may consider organising night markets on the banks on special occasions.

Torsak said that another project that BMA is working on is the landscaping of the Bang Lamphu and Ong Ang canals. After completion, a new boat route will be opened and connected with electric train routes to promote tourism in the Phahurat, Sampheng and Khlong Thom areas. The BMA is also considering launching taxi boats on the canals.