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Mass transit in Phuket: Minister criticizes tram plan as a mistake!
Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn rejects the Phuket mass transit project and advocates expanding existing bus services.
Mass transit in Phuket: Minister criticizes tram plan as a mistake!
In Phuket, the planned mass transit project, a tram or light rail system, is causing heated discussions. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the deputy prime minister and transport minister, has spoken out clearly against the plan. Loud Bangkok Post The project, proposed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), will bring limited benefits and could even worsen the already high traffic congestion in the popular holiday region.
Phiphat raises serious concerns: “The costs will be enormous and will make the traffic situation even more complicated.” He argues that construction in the center lane of major roads would reduce the number of lanes and require additional infrastructure such as pedestrian overpasses. “Most visitors come by car from other provinces, so we expect ridership to be low,” he added.
Alternative solutions for traffic in Phuket
Instead of an expensive tram project, the minister proposes widening the existing roads and expanding bus services. This could provide a more cost-effective and flexible solution. “The establishment of bus lanes is more beneficial and is considered an effective measure to ease traffic in Phuket,” Phiphat further explains. This could easily be adjusted to allow buses to move better.
To ease the traffic situation, he also plans to expand the main road that connects Phuket Airport to the city. The middle lane is to be removed there and barriers are to be used to increase capacity from six to eight lanes. At the same time, discussions are underway with private operators to increase the number of buses.
Questions about investment and feasibility
With an estimated investment volume of 35 to 35.2 billion baht, the first phase of the tram project also represents a significant financial burden. The planned route would run 41 to 42 kilometers from Phuket International Airport to the Chalong Five-Way Intersection. But the question remains: Is this investment worth it if the actual use is questionable?
Phiphat has clear plans under the Southern Economic Corridor initiative, which targets major infrastructure projects, including a land bridge connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea. So the course has been set for transport policy in Phuket, and it remains to be seen which direction the political decision-makers will take.