The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has rejected the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) plan to use Hua Lamphong railway station as a venue for an outdoor showing of a popular Thai drama film, called “Khu Kam” (Sunset at Chaophraya), this Sunday, claiming that the station is a controlled area and that there may be many passengers travelling back from their vacations after this week’s public holidays.

The SRT’s public relations director, Eakkaruch Sreearayunpong, said today (Thursday) that they have not yet been formally approached by the BMA and it has not granted the permission.

He said that the SRT would take into consideration the appropriateness of the venue for the event, as well as the safety of people using the services at the train station, which he described as a “closed” area.

Noting the ongoing surge in COVID-19 infections and the SRT’s enhanced safety measures, he said that Hua Lamphong station is not suitable for a public movie screening.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told Thai PBS that he understands the SRT’s concerns, adding that he will try to find a new location for the screening and asked the media and critics not to view the refusal as being politically motivated.

He explained, however, that his original choice of Hua Lamphong stemmed from his desire to let people in Bangkok feel and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere of an outdoor movie, which has been absent from the capital for a long time.

The BMA recently launched a program to screen old Thai movies out-doors, as part of the new governor’s ambitious plan to change Bangkok for the better.