We have all been waiting on tenterhooks in the hope that the proposed light-rail system for Phuket will get the go ahead, and now we can all breathe a sigh of relief. The Ministry of Transport has just given the approval for the long-awaited rail system from Tha Noon, Phang Nga, to Chalong Circle in Phuket, at a cost of 23.5 billion THB.
The project is hoped to be completed by 2021, and there will be 23 stations, between Phang Nga to Phuket, covering an area of 60km.
Chaiwat Tongkamkoon, Deputy Director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) recently said, “The Ministry of Transport agrees with the proposal to build the light rail because this project can run along the main roads, there is no need to buy land from residents and the project will require only a low budget to maintain.
“Once it is completed, the project will ease traffic congestion in Phuket, especially for tourists who take at least three hours to travel to the airport.”
It’s great news for all of us who live in Phuket, offering another option to the somewhat problematic Phuket transportation system, which is rapidly improving as the years go on. Let’s hope we can all reach our destination safely together!
