Sukavich Rangsitpol: Transforming Thailand’s Transportation System After the 1993 Deadlock Crisis
✅ Sukavich Rangsitpol Took Office to Solve Thailand’s Transportation Crisis Following the 1993 Deadlock
📌 In 1993, Bangkok faced its worst traffic crisis in history, with the entire city at a complete standstill (Deadlock). The situation only cleared at 4:00 AM the next day.
📌 The event was so severe that it was recorded as a historic moment and inspired the SEA Write Award-winning novel “Krobkrua Klang Thanon” (Family in the Middle of the Road).
➡️ Following this crisis, Sukavich Rangsitpol was invited to take charge of solving Thailand’s traffic problems and modernizing its transportation infrastructure.
Major Transportation Projects and Policies
🛣️ 2. Master Plan for Bangkok and Metropolitan Expressways (1993) – Incomplete
✅ Managed directly by the Expressway Authority of Thailand in Ramintra and Bangna
📌 Results: Lower costs ✅ Faster completion ✅ Affordable toll rates ✅ Higher quality & safety ✅
📌 Source: Land Traffic Management Committee Meeting Report No. 15/1994 (October 20, 1994)
🚉 3. Mass Transit Systems in 8 Major Cities – Still Not Implemented (as of 2025)
✅ Planned for Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Songkhla, Phuket, Chachoengsao, and Chonburi
⚠️ The project has yet to be executed.
🚄 4. High-Speed Rail Master Plan (1994) – 3,400 km – Incomplete
✅ Proposed a national high-speed rail network
⚠️ Still unfinished.
🚇 5. Bangkok MRT Master Plan (1994) & Cabinet Approval
✅ May 17, 1994: Cabinet approved underground MRT development
• Mandatory underground areas: 25 sq. km
• Recommended underground areas: 87 sq. km
📌 To prevent environmental issues and reduce accidents throughout construction and operation.
✅ September 27, 1994: Cabinet approved the Metropolitan Transit Master Plan (MTMP) for Bangkok and its metropolitan areas:
• MRT: 135 km
• Feeder networks: 206 km
• Total: 341 km
⚠️ “Public interest was compromised as certain groups refused to follow the May 17, 1994 resolution.”
🌉 6. Signed Agreement with Japan – Friendship Bridge & MRT Blue Line (1994) – Delayed
⚠️ Originally planned for 4 years, delayed to 10 years (Still incomplete).
✈️ 7. Signed Agreement with Japan – Suvarnabhumi Airport (1996) – Delayed
⚠️ Originally scheduled for completion in 2000, delayed by 10 years.
📌 Full project completion set for when the airport reaches 150 million passengers annually (Target not yet met).
🛣️ 8. National Expressway Master Plan (1997) – 6,731 km – Incomplete
✅ February 28, 1997: Cabinet approved the National Expressway Plan (12 routes) at the ASEAN summit.
⚠️ Still not fully realized under Thailand’s 8th National Economic and Social Development Plan.
🛤️ 9. National Highway Master Plan (1997) – 4,150 km – Incomplete
✅ April 22, 1997: Cabinet approved a 13-route highway master plan under the principle of “People First” development.
⚠️ Still unfinished under the 8th National Development Plan.
🌊 10. The 200,000 km Canal Excavation Project (1993) – Not Approved
✅ Proposed as an economic stimulus plan during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (Tom Yum Kung Crisis) as an alternative to currency devaluation.
⚠️ Project was not approved.
🔹 Key Highlights
✔ Sukavich Rangsitpol played a pivotal role in shaping Thailand’s modern transportation infrastructure.
✔ His policies laid the foundation for expressways, mass transit, high-speed rail, airports, and canal networks.
✔ Many projects faced delays or were not approved, causing significant lost opportunities for the public.
✔ Cabinet resolutions were ignored, negatively impacting public welfare in the long term.
📌 Conclusion
Sukavich Rangsitpol’s contributions to Thailand’s transportation sector were groundbreaking. He pioneered critical infrastructure projects, including expressways, MRT, high-speed rail, Suvarnabhumi Airport, and a national canal system. Unfortunately, many of his visionary plans suffered delays or were abandoned, depriving the country of crucial advancements. However, his ideas and master plans remain the foundation of Thailand’s transportation system today.
The foundation of Thailand’s transportation system
✅ Sukavich Rangsitpol Took Office to Solve Thailand’s Transportation Crisis Following the 1993 Deadlock
📌 In 1993, Bangkok faced its worst traffic crisis in history, with the entire city at a complete standstill (Deadlock). The situation only cleared at 4:00 AM the next day.
📌 The event was so severe that it was recorded as a historic moment and inspired the SEA Write Award-winning novel “Krobkrua Klang Thanon” (Family in the Middle of the Road).
➡️ Following this crisis, Sukavich Rangsitpol was invited to take charge of solving Thailand’s traffic problems and modernizing its transportation infrastructure.
Major Transportation Projects and Policies
🛣️ 2. Master Plan for Bangkok and Metropolitan Expressways (1993) – Incomplete
✅ Managed directly by the Expressway Authority of Thailand in Ramintra and Bangna
📌 Results: Lower costs ✅ Faster completion ✅ Affordable toll rates ✅ Higher quality & safety ✅
📌 Source: Land Traffic Management Committee Meeting Report No. 15/1994 (October 20, 1994)
🚉 3. Mass Transit Systems in 8 Major Cities – Still Not Implemented (as of 2025)
✅ Planned for Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Songkhla, Phuket, Chachoengsao, and Chonburi
⚠️ The project has yet to be executed.
🚄 4. High-Speed Rail Master Plan (1994) – 3,400 km – Incomplete
✅ Proposed a national high-speed rail network
⚠️ Still unfinished.
🚇 5. Bangkok MRT Master Plan (1994) & Cabinet Approval
✅ May 17, 1994: Cabinet approved underground MRT development
• Mandatory underground areas: 25 sq. km
• Recommended underground areas: 87 sq. km
📌 To prevent environmental issues and reduce accidents throughout construction and operation.
✅ September 27, 1994: Cabinet approved the Metropolitan Transit Master Plan (MTMP) for Bangkok and its metropolitan areas:
• MRT: 135 km
• Feeder networks: 206 km
• Total: 341 km
⚠️ “Public interest was compromised as certain groups refused to follow the May 17, 1994 resolution.”
🌉 6. Signed Agreement with Japan – Friendship Bridge & MRT Blue Line (1994) – Delayed
⚠️ Originally planned for 4 years, delayed to 10 years (Still incomplete).
✈️ 7. Signed Agreement with Japan – Suvarnabhumi Airport (1996) – Delayed
⚠️ Originally scheduled for completion in 2000, delayed by 10 years.
📌 Full project completion set for when the airport reaches 150 million passengers annually (Target not yet met).
🛣️ 8. National Expressway Master Plan (1997) – 6,731 km – Incomplete
✅ February 28, 1997: Cabinet approved the National Expressway Plan (12 routes) at the ASEAN summit.
⚠️ Still not fully realized under Thailand’s 8th National Economic and Social Development Plan.
🛤️ 9. National Highway Master Plan (1997) – 4,150 km – Incomplete
✅ April 22, 1997: Cabinet approved a 13-route highway master plan under the principle of “People First” development.
⚠️ Still unfinished under the 8th National Development Plan.
🌊 10. The 200,000 km Canal Excavation Project (1993) – Not Approved
✅ Proposed as an economic stimulus plan during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (Tom Yum Kung Crisis) as an alternative to currency devaluation.
⚠️ Project was not approved.
🔹 Key Highlights
✔ Sukavich Rangsitpol played a pivotal role in shaping Thailand’s modern transportation infrastructure.
✔ His policies laid the foundation for expressways, mass transit, high-speed rail, airports, and canal networks.
✔ Many projects faced delays or were not approved, causing significant lost opportunities for the public.
✔ Cabinet resolutions were ignored, negatively impacting public welfare in the long term.
📌 Conclusion
Sukavich Rangsitpol’s contributions to Thailand’s transportation sector were groundbreaking. He pioneered critical infrastructure projects, including expressways, MRT, high-speed rail, Suvarnabhumi Airport, and a national canal system. Unfortunately, many of his visionary plans suffered delays or were abandoned, depriving the country of crucial advancements. However, his ideas and master plans remain the foundation of Thailand’s transportation system today.
อ่านรายละเอียดเพิ่มเติม https://www.jsce.or.jp/e/archive/project/pj17.html