REPORTS in other media on June 4 confirm what Phuketwan told readers exclusively on May 16.


PHUKET: A plan to illuminate Patong's beach road and bury the existing ugly cables underground is all set to proceed once the switch is thrown on a 203.8 million baht deal.

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin revealed the plan exclusively to Phuketwan today after reaching an agreement with the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority.

Best-known for its queues of tuk-tuks on one side and motorcycle renters hogging parking space on the other, Thaweewong Road will be transformed for three kilometres from the Amari roundabout to the new roundabout at the northern end of the beach.

Budgets - 88.3 million baht from the authority and 115.5 million baht from the Patong Council - have been approved so construction can begin soon, Mayor Pian said.

''The project doesn't really need to be delayed until after next high season because Patong is busy all year round now,'' the mayor said.

The Director of the Authority, Chaiyaboon Neyakul, confirmed that the new power system could be installed just as soon as Mayor Keesin has informed local residents and businesses.

''Once Mayor Keesin has let people know, our staff will begin work straight away.''

A design has yet to be approved. Mayor Keesin is known to have a liking for dolphins as Patong's emblem.

With modern poles along the sea side of beach road, the footpath on the shopping side should become easier for pedestrians to negotiate.

Whether Patong Council can use the project to limit the number of tuk-tuks or to restore the parking spaces for public usage remains to be seen.

Burying cables in Patong's popular Soi Bangla Walking Street remains on the ''to do'' list.

A lift-and-bury campaign in Old Phuket Town has enhanced the appeal of Phuket's Sino-Portuguese historic district and shown what could be possible if all ugly of Phuket's cables vanished.

Karon's beach road already has its cables buried.