PATTAYA (Metro Rail News): The administration of Pattaya City intended to develop a 9 km monorail to ease traffic congestion & join the city with the govt’s flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project.
Manote Nongyai deputy mayor of Pattaya yesterday announced that where Pattaya has a wealth of potential for economic development, it has been troubled with traffic problems due to rapid urban growth and requires an efficient public transport system, especially in its downtown area that is a key commercial & economic centre.
Mr Manote told that Pattaya necessitates developing a public transport system to promote travel across the city, adding that a highly effective system would be in high demand to post Covid-19 crisis eases.
He further added that for the Pattaya future development, it is important to decrease the use of private cars were moving towards public transport in the terms of an electric rail system to distribute wealth, enhance tourism and support the industrial sector.
Pattaya City administration has allotted a budget of 70 million baht for a feasibility study project, combining the rail project in Pattaya would be created to link with the govt’s infrastructure development in the EEC that spans 3 eastern areas of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri & Rayong.
Mr Manote also talk about the Pattaya City has appointed a consortium of consultants to consider designs and environmental consequences and the findings would be bestowed to Pattaya City.
Manager of the feasibility study project, Pongtawee Lertpanyawit, a stated that initially 3 types of rail systems were counted tram, monorail & underground rail. Investment might be under the public-private partnership model under the EEC’s announcement according to Mr Manote.
After a particular study & the public hearings for the first round, it was allowed a monorail system will be the best option due to, it would cost less than the other 2 systems and have a little impact through construction as stated by Mr Pongtawee.
The monorail system would include an elevated structure built of steel-reinforced concrete and piers each only 1.8 metres wide holding up the structure. The 9 km monorail will operate from Pattaya railway station by a motorway, Northern Pattaya Road, Pattaya Sai two Road, Thap Phraya intersection to Bali Hai Pier, that is the major route for passengers in Pattaya stated by Mr Pongtawee.
He further added there will be no requirement to expropriate enough land along with this route for the organisation that in turn means there will be a less impact on local residents.
