Ah, Chiang Mai, the gem of the north, famous for its breathtaking temples and mouthwatering khao soi! Here’s the thing though, amidst the picturesque beauty and cultural charm, Chiang Mai has been wrestling with a rather unsightly opponent – air pollution. But worry not, because Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin rolled into town with a plan that could very well give this problem the old heave-ho!
Here’s the scoop: during his whirlwind two-day escapade in Chiang Mai, which wrapped up on Thursday, Mr. Srettha shared his grand vision of an electric mass transit system zapping through the city. The silver lining? The air seemed to have gotten a bit of a freshening up from when he last dropped by on November 28th. The pesky PM2.5 levels had taken a noticeable nosedive in the city compared to the previous year.
Things were looking rather grim last April when Gistda, those space tech wizards, picked up on 302 hotspots cooking up a real environmental conundrum. It was a red alert situation. The haze was like an unwelcome party crasher, sending tourists packing and coughing. But Mr. Srettha reassured everyone that the gears were in motion, and from quick fixes to the long game, the powers that be were on it!
Step aside, traditional traffic jams, because the Transport Ministry is in the driver’s seat now, and they’re steering towards a revamp with a sprinkle of modernity. That’s right – a transit system that’s not only smooth as butter for the dear residents but also a magnet for globe-trotters. The PM hinted at a futuristic monorail, imagining it whizzing by and giving the local economy a turbo boost.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, not to be outdone in his creativity, threw a couple of innovative pitches during the visit. How about we swap the iconic red pickup taxis, the songthaews, for some sleek EVs? And, oh, envision an outer ring road playing connect-the-dots with the airport and must-see spots over a 53km joyride, easing the city’s chokepoints.
Chiang Mai’s to-do list also features the Lanna Airport – a shiny sibling to welcome even more visitors to the region. The planners earmarked a vast 8,000-rai playground spanning two districts for this grand venture. And for those looking to hop between the city’s crown jewels like the night safari and botanical gardens, say hello to a new tourist bus service set to make the rounds.
Mr. Srettha gave two thumbs up to these traffic-taming and pollution-pummeling plans. He’s convinced this well-oiled strategy will amplify public transport and subsequently add glitter to the province’s tourism crown.
But it’s not all local – Mr. Srettha’s phone will be buzzing soon as he reaches out across borders to his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, aiming to snuff out the air-polluting farmland fires. The latest update from Gistda had the red alert klaxon sounding for ten provinces, signaling it’s time for regional teamwork to clear the air.
One thing is certain – Chiang Mai is standing at the cusp of an electrifying transition, and if all goes as planned, its skies and streets could showcase the perfect blend of ancient culture and innovative, green transportation. Get ready, because if these green dreams come to life, Chiang Mai’s air will not only clear up for postcard-perfect views but also make a statement as a pioneering city of sustainability.
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