In a move to tackle road congestion, the city administration of Pattaya has unveiled ambitious plans to establish four monorail lines.
The initial step will be the implementation of a 9.9-kilometer “Green Line” course, intended to link the upcoming high-speed rail station to the Bali Hai pier.
On Tuesday, Pattaya’s deputy mayor, Manote Nongyai, presided over the fourth public hearing regarding the feasibility study and environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the city’s rail development project.
The hearing took place at the Pattaya Redemptorist Technological College for People with Disabilities.
The meeting was attended by representatives from three advisory firms, community heads, local citizens, government bodies, and members from both private and civil society sectors.
On Wednesday, Pongtavee Lertpanyavit, the project study supervisor, informed the press that the much-anticipated monorail project would contribute to resolving traffic issues and enhancing the city’s transportation infrastructure.
Over 80% of attendees at the meeting voiced agreement that a monorail was the best suited system for Pattaya City, as per Mr Pongtavee’s statement.
He also noted that during the public consultation, City Hall presented a blueprint for four monorail routes — Green, Yellow, Purple, and Red — with all planned locations for service and maintenance centers.
Mr Pongtavee indicated that the Green Line will be the first one to be constructed, providing passengers of the future Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed rail with a convenient connection to Pattaya Beach.
With a total of 13 stations, the Green Line will originate from the high-speed rail station and conclude at Bali Hai pier, where visitors can embark on boats bound for Koh Lan.
The overall project will be rolled out in three stages, according to Mr Pongtavee.
The first phase, spanning from 2021 to 2026, will focus on the construction of both the Green Line and the Yellow Line.
The latter is a dual-track rail project, designed to form a crucial link between the city of Chon Buri and the southern district of Sattahip within the province.
The second phase, set to occur from 2027 to 2031, will see the rise of the Purple Line. This route will be established to connect the Nong Prue municipality with the Muang Pattaya 8 School located in the Bang Lamung district.
The concluding phase, projected to take place from 2032 to 2036, is reserved for the development of the Red Line.
This line is planned to extend from the Eastern National Sports Training Centre on Chaiyaphruek 2 Road, all the way to the iconic dolphin roundabout.
