Thailand‘s fire-damaged CentralWorld complex to reopen September 28

Thailand‘s CentralWorld shopping complex –the country’s largest– will reopen for shoppers September 28, according to Central Pattana president and chief executive officer, Kobchai Chirathivat.

CentralWorld, Thailand’s largest shopping complex and the second largest in Southeast Asia, was set afire by allegedly disgruntled Red Shirt protesters after their protest leaders surrendered to police on May 19 as troops after a half-day of violence and the military closing in on Ratchaprasong intersection where the demonstrators had encamped since early April.

With over Bt2.8 billion invested in the renovation, Mr Kobchai said 80 per cent of the total area will reopen for shoppers, while the rest of the areas will reopen by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Zen Department Store, part of the CentralWorld’s premises which collapsed after eight hours engulfed in flame, will be open in August next year.

Mr Kobchai confirmed that the building’s structure was approved by Bangkok municipality’s Public Works Department and certified safe by the Thailand Engineering Institute.

Central Pattana Plc (CPN) improved its security system according to international standard such as having smoke detectors installed in shops’ areas and an escalator system equipped with security detection for customers.

The closure of CentralWorld since April has not affected the company’s revenues, said Mr Kobchai, as CentralWorld’s office building still functions normally and CPN postponed the renovation of its Central Plaza Lat Phrao, another main Central branch in the capital, to 2011.

He said Central Pattana‘s insurance company will conclude its compensation package by this year or early next year.

Source: MCOT online news