Several new traffic rules were set by the Chiang Mai traffic police department to tackle possible traffic congestion near the site of the approaching Royal Flora Ratchaphruek exposition. Traffic control has been introduced because of the exposition’s failure to provide sufficient car parks on its massive property.

“One weak point of this exposition is the lack of enough car parking. The exposition’s committee expects to see up to 30,000 people visiting the site but its current car parks have a capacity for just around 2,000 vehicles,” explained Somboon Chaisiriniran, the head of the Chiang Mai Provincial Rural Roads Office. He further explained that prior to the cabinet dissolution the office suggested a building for alternative parking but it was rejected due to budget shortage.

Somboon added that the only measure to prevent traffic congestion around the site is to provide a lot of transportation to the site and encourage people to use mass transport to get to the site.

“New rules were launched to promote a smooth flow of traffic around the site. Personal vehicles with no stickers indicating they’re VIP or staff right, won’t be allowed to pass into the site and its parking areas. Only tour buses, mass transit buses and songtaew are allowed,” stated Pol Lt Col Wongpat Jamroonpan. The parking of cars is also forbidden along the Ratchaphruek road, the road to Doi Kham temple, canal road starting from in front of the Emperor Houses to the entrance of Nong Kwai temple and the road to the Night Safari.

 

 
“Thousands of residents in tambol Mae Hia who live in close proximity to the site will be asked to put the sticker pass on all of their vehicles. With these stickers, they will be privileged to use the Royal Flora’s entrance road on a regular basis to get to their destination. But they won’t be able to park their vehicles at the site’s parking areas,” explained Somboon.

Chiang Mai Municipality, the Land Transport Office as well as the Lanna Transport Cooperatives have decided to provide transport to the sites.

The Land Transportation Office provides free-of-charge chartered buses from the 700 Year Stadium, the City Hall and Train Station to the exposition site respectively.

The Chiang Mai Municipality earlier launched its new two routes linking the train station and the Arcade bus station to the site and will charge adults B15 and children B10.

400 red songtaew from the Lanna Transport- Cooperatives which administrates a total number of 2500 red song taew in Chiang Mai will offer transport from all department stores, hypermarts, Mee Chok plaza, Global House, Choeng Doi market, Kad Farang and North University to the site at B20-25 each.

Source: CityLife News on 26 October 2006

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