Project News

On July 5, 2022, the first M-MAP2 Platform was organized by Department Rail Transport (DRT). The M-MAP2 Platform was established by DRT in May 2022 following the advice of JICA Expert Team, in order to share and discuss various issues related to railway development policies with all relevant organizations in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Expected agenda includes the future vision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region as a basis of M-MAP2, multi-modal coordination such as bus and motorcycle taxi, the socio-economic impact of the railway business, and how to secure railway development cost.

M-MAP2 Platform comprises diverse members, including the relevant departments of the Ministry of Transport, members of Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC), Public Debt Management Office of the Ministry of Finance, which manage financial resources for railway development, Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning of Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for regional and urban planning, and the Provincial Administrative Organization of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Experts from both Thai and Japanese sides will also participate in these discussions to provide professional advice.

The First M-MAP2 Platform meeting focused on the "M-MAP2 Policy Issues", after sharing the above-mentioned objectives of the Platform. Draft M-MAP2 policy was presented by DRT Consultant, which covers "capacity," "coverage," "connectivity," "affordability," "inter-modal transit/accessibility", which was followed by discussions as below;

• Transport capacity: In the short term, it is more important to strengthen the capacity of existing railroads than to expand new lines.
• Network: in order to improve network effectiveness of railway, it is important to eliminate missing links. Furthermore, priority should be given to improve feeder systems such as bus and motorcycle taxi.
• Restriction measures on private means, such as passenger cars and motorcycles, should also be considered. However, coverage of public transportation services should be carefully considered.
• Intermodal transfer facilities are key to improve accessibility. In addition, although 800m was proposed as a service coverage of the station, it is essential to improve the sidewalk.
• The new railway lines being considered by the Provincial Administrative Organizations also needs to be considered.

Based on the discussions in this platform, M-MAP2 policies will be established, a demand forecasting model will be prepared to evaluate these policies, and traffic survey will be conducted.

DRT members at DRT meeting room

On-line participants