CENTRAL Pattana Public Co. Ltd. (CPN), owner of the burned Central World shopping complex in Bangkok’s shopping area in Ratchaprasong, has announced that it would start reconstruction work this month on both the complex, which it said was only partially damaged, and on the Zen Department Store, which bore the brunt of the fire.

Kobchai Chirathivat, Central Pattana CEO, said it would take about six months for the reconstruction of the shopping complex to finish and 14 months for the  Zen Department Store.

This means shoppers and other visitors will have to wait until late November to be able to return to the shopping complex. They can expect the Zen Department Store to reopen in July next year. The complex also houses the Japanese Isetann department store and supermarket.

Central World is touted as Asia’s largest lifestyle shopping mall.  

Meantime, CPN, together with the Central Group, has launched its Four-Point Plan, which will help tenants bring back customers through various marketing activities; find alternative outlets so that tenants can continue to sell their products and stay connected to their customer base; offer financial help in which CPN will waive rentals for almost all of April until the time that tenants reopen their premises; and let tenant avail themselves of “contract flexibility,” in which terms and conditions in rental agreements that may be financial hard to comply with, will be enforced flexibly or waived.

Central World was among tens of buildings torched by rampaging Red Shirt protesters on May 19, after their leaders surrendered to authorities.