Bangkok: The Royal Ceremony Coordination Center has concluded its second meeting, revealing plans to accommodate an estimated 30,000 daily visitors expected to pay their respects to the royal remains. Phradon, who disclosed the meeting’s outcomes, has coordinated with various units to offer essential services such as food, beverages, phone charging stations, and wheelchairs. Additionally, plans are underway to introduce a hotline for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to provide information. The Ministry of the Interior has arranged for alphabetically organized queues across different provinces for those paying respects.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Paradorn Prisananantakul, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and chair of the Royal Cremation Ceremony Coordination and Administration Center, stated that the second meeting in 2025 set forth guidelines to facilitate public access to the royal remains inside the palace on November 9th. This follows the Bureau of the Royal Household’s announcement of the closure of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram until November 8th due to royal merit-making ceremonies for the late Queen.
The Ministry of Interior has projected that 3,000-5,000 people will travel from each province. To manage this influx, provinces will ascertain the number of interested individuals and organize alphabetical queues for designated days and times, preventing overcrowding. Upon arrival, attendees will be transported by shuttle buses from Sanam Luang, coordinated with the Ministry of Transport, to the Grand Palace.
For attendees who are elderly, shuttle services from the Grand Palace back to Sanam Luang will be provided by the Ministry of Transport. Within Sanam Luang, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will manage services while people wait in line. Tents are set up to accommodate around 10,000 people per round, allowing entry three times daily.
Amenities, including food, drinks, internet access coordinated with AIS and True, and phone charging points, will be available at the waiting area. For donations of food or other items, contact can be made through the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister or directly with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration via hotlines 1111 and 1818, respectively.
The Ministry of Public Health will collaborate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to provide medical services at eight locations around Sanam Luang and near the Grand Palace. The Commander of Army Region 1 will lead the command center for volunteers, coordinating civilian, 904, and government volunteers, who will be assigned work queues.
For the elderly and disabled, wheelchair access will be facilitated by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, with additional support from the private sector for golf carts in the Sanam Luang area. Parking arrangements for large vehicles from other provinces have been organized, with designated areas for personal vehicles at Sanam Luang’s north side, near the Royal Navy Club, and on Ratchanee Road, Asada Road, and Sanam Chai Road.