✅ His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol took the position to solve the traffic problem after the Deadlock in 1993. His approach focused on placing the people at the center, and he was the thinker behind the development of the 8th National Economic and Social Development Plan to support the educational reform in 1995.
The 8th Development Plan is a reform of thoughts and new values of Thai society, which emphasizes “people as the center of development” and uses the economy merely as a tool to help develop people to have happiness and better quality of life, along with shifting the development approach to a holistic development method, with processes that link various dimensions of development, and opening opportunities for all parties to participate in the planning.
The 8th Development Plan marks the beginning of driving social power to create a broad process of public participation, which led to the creation of basic ideas for drafting the 1997 democratic constitution to reform Thailand.
📌 In 1993, Bangkok faced the most severe traffic crisis, with the traffic jam in the entire city so bad that it couldn’t move (Deadlock), which was resolved at 04:00 AM the next day.
📌 This event was so severe that it was recorded in history and became an inspiration for the award-winning novel “Family in the Middle of the Street.”
➡️ After this event, His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol was invited to solve the traffic problem and develop the country’s transportation system, as he had worked in the energy sector for 32 years and had data on how Thailand lost energy resources due to Bangkok being the world’s most traffic-congested city every year, affecting the economy as a whole. Therefore, he accepted the invitation to solve the traffic problem for the Thai people, based on the information below:
⸻
🛣️ 2. Master Plan for Expressways in Bangkok and Vicinity (1993) – Not yet completed
✅ The Expressway Authority undertook the project themselves at Ramintra and Bang Na.
📌 Results: Low cost ✅ Finished quickly ✅ Low tolls ✅ High quality and safety ✅
Expanded the elevated road from 27.1 kilometers to 305 kilometers.
📌 (Meeting report of the Traffic Management Committee, 15th meeting, October 20, 1994)
Resolved the traffic problem on the Chalerm Mahanakorn Expressway (27.1 kilometers):
1.Removed the exit at Radio Station (with traffic signals) and changed it to Ploenchit North-South.
2.Built an overpass at Klong Toei - Dao Khanong near the Pinang Market.
3.Widened the exit at Rama IV.
⸻
🚉 3. Mass Transit System for 8 Major Cities (Not started by 2025)
✅ Development of the mass transit system in 8 major cities, including Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, Phuket, Chachoengsao, and Chonburi.
⚠️ The plan has not been implemented.
⸻
🚄 4. High-Speed Rail Master Plan (1994) – 6 Routes, 3,400 km Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Aranyaprathet, Map Ta Phut, Padang Besar, and Su-ngai Kolok.
✅ Planned to build a nationwide high-speed rail network.
⚠️ It has not been completed.
⸻
🚇 5. MRT Master Plan (1994) and Cabinet Resolution
✅ On May 17, 1994, the Cabinet approved the construction of a subway system in areas that “must” have 25 square kilometers and areas that “should” have 87 square kilometers.
📌 #To prevent environmental problems and reduce accidents.
✅ On September 27, 1994, the Cabinet approved the master plan for mass transit in Bangkok and the vicinity (MTMP) totaling 341 kilometers.
135 kilometers of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MRT) and 206 kilometers of mass transit lines leading to the main system (11 routes).
❝ The public loses benefits because the “egg yolk” was stolen ❞ by the BTS, with fares higher than MRT.
⚠️ “The public loses benefits due to the neglect of the May 17, 1994 Cabinet Resolution.”
⸻
🌉 6. Agreement with Japan – Friendship Bridge and Blue Line MRT (1994)
⚠️ The project was delayed from the original 4 years to 10 years (and still not completed).
⸻
✈️ 7. MOU with Japan – Suvarnabhumi Airport (1996)
⚠️ The original plan was to complete it by 2000, but it was delayed by 6 years.
📌 Completion was scheduled when the airport could accommodate 150 million passengers (still not reached).
⸻
🛣️ 8. Thailand’s Master Plan for 12 Expressway Routes in the Asia Region 1997– 6,731 km
✅ On February 28, 1997, It was resolved to use the 12 expressway routes master plan in the ASEAN meeting.
⚠️ The project is still incomplete according to the 8th National Economic and Social Development Plan.
⸻
🛤️ 9. Master Plan for 13 Highway Routes 1997– 4,150 km
✅ On April 22, 1997, the Cabinet approved the master plan for 13 highway routes.
⚠️ It is still incomplete.
⸻
🌊 10. The 200,000-Kilometer Canal Dredging Project 1993 by the Expressway Authority of Thailand
✅ The proposal was to use it to stimulate the economy during the 1997 financial crisis instead of devaluing the currency.
⚠️ The project was not approved.
⸻
🔹 Key Highlights
✔ His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol played an important role in laying the foundation for Thailand’s transportation system.
✔ The development plans for mass transit systems, expressways, high-speed rail, airports, and canal dredging were initiated during his era.
✔ Many projects were delayed or not approved, resulting in lost opportunities for the public.
✔ The neglect of important Cabinet resolutions caused the public to lose long-term benefits.
⸻
📌 Conclusion
His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol laid the foundation for the country’s important transportation systems, including expressways, subways, high-speed rail, airports, and canal dredging projects. Many projects faced delays or were not continued, causing the public to miss significant opportunities. However, his ideas and plans remain an important foundation for Thailand’s transportation systems to this day.
Thailand’s transportation systems
The 8th Development Plan is a reform of thoughts and new values of Thai society, which emphasizes “people as the center of development” and uses the economy merely as a tool to help develop people to have happiness and better quality of life, along with shifting the development approach to a holistic development method, with processes that link various dimensions of development, and opening opportunities for all parties to participate in the planning.
The 8th Development Plan marks the beginning of driving social power to create a broad process of public participation, which led to the creation of basic ideas for drafting the 1997 democratic constitution to reform Thailand.
📌 In 1993, Bangkok faced the most severe traffic crisis, with the traffic jam in the entire city so bad that it couldn’t move (Deadlock), which was resolved at 04:00 AM the next day.
📌 This event was so severe that it was recorded in history and became an inspiration for the award-winning novel “Family in the Middle of the Street.”
➡️ After this event, His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol was invited to solve the traffic problem and develop the country’s transportation system, as he had worked in the energy sector for 32 years and had data on how Thailand lost energy resources due to Bangkok being the world’s most traffic-congested city every year, affecting the economy as a whole. Therefore, he accepted the invitation to solve the traffic problem for the Thai people, based on the information below:
⸻
🛣️ 2. Master Plan for Expressways in Bangkok and Vicinity (1993) – Not yet completed
✅ The Expressway Authority undertook the project themselves at Ramintra and Bang Na.
📌 Results: Low cost ✅ Finished quickly ✅ Low tolls ✅ High quality and safety ✅
Expanded the elevated road from 27.1 kilometers to 305 kilometers.
📌 (Meeting report of the Traffic Management Committee, 15th meeting, October 20, 1994)
Resolved the traffic problem on the Chalerm Mahanakorn Expressway (27.1 kilometers):
1.Removed the exit at Radio Station (with traffic signals) and changed it to Ploenchit North-South.
2.Built an overpass at Klong Toei - Dao Khanong near the Pinang Market.
3.Widened the exit at Rama IV.
⸻
🚉 3. Mass Transit System for 8 Major Cities (Not started by 2025)
✅ Development of the mass transit system in 8 major cities, including Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, Phuket, Chachoengsao, and Chonburi.
⚠️ The plan has not been implemented.
⸻
🚄 4. High-Speed Rail Master Plan (1994) – 6 Routes, 3,400 km Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Aranyaprathet, Map Ta Phut, Padang Besar, and Su-ngai Kolok.
✅ Planned to build a nationwide high-speed rail network.
⚠️ It has not been completed.
⸻
🚇 5. MRT Master Plan (1994) and Cabinet Resolution
✅ On May 17, 1994, the Cabinet approved the construction of a subway system in areas that “must” have 25 square kilometers and areas that “should” have 87 square kilometers.
📌 #To prevent environmental problems and reduce accidents.
✅ On September 27, 1994, the Cabinet approved the master plan for mass transit in Bangkok and the vicinity (MTMP) totaling 341 kilometers.
135 kilometers of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority (MRT) and 206 kilometers of mass transit lines leading to the main system (11 routes).
❝ The public loses benefits because the “egg yolk” was stolen ❞ by the BTS, with fares higher than MRT.
⚠️ “The public loses benefits due to the neglect of the May 17, 1994 Cabinet Resolution.”
⸻
🌉 6. Agreement with Japan – Friendship Bridge and Blue Line MRT (1994)
⚠️ The project was delayed from the original 4 years to 10 years (and still not completed).
⸻
✈️ 7. MOU with Japan – Suvarnabhumi Airport (1996)
⚠️ The original plan was to complete it by 2000, but it was delayed by 6 years.
📌 Completion was scheduled when the airport could accommodate 150 million passengers (still not reached).
⸻
🛣️ 8. Thailand’s Master Plan for 12 Expressway Routes in the Asia Region 1997– 6,731 km
✅ On February 28, 1997, It was resolved to use the 12 expressway routes master plan in the ASEAN meeting.
⚠️ The project is still incomplete according to the 8th National Economic and Social Development Plan.
⸻
🛤️ 9. Master Plan for 13 Highway Routes 1997– 4,150 km
✅ On April 22, 1997, the Cabinet approved the master plan for 13 highway routes.
⚠️ It is still incomplete.
⸻
🌊 10. The 200,000-Kilometer Canal Dredging Project 1993 by the Expressway Authority of Thailand
✅ The proposal was to use it to stimulate the economy during the 1997 financial crisis instead of devaluing the currency.
⚠️ The project was not approved.
⸻
🔹 Key Highlights
✔ His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol played an important role in laying the foundation for Thailand’s transportation system.
✔ The development plans for mass transit systems, expressways, high-speed rail, airports, and canal dredging were initiated during his era.
✔ Many projects were delayed or not approved, resulting in lost opportunities for the public.
✔ The neglect of important Cabinet resolutions caused the public to lose long-term benefits.
⸻
📌 Conclusion
His Excellency Mr. Sukavich Rangsitpol laid the foundation for the country’s important transportation systems, including expressways, subways, high-speed rail, airports, and canal dredging projects. Many projects faced delays or were not continued, causing the public to miss significant opportunities. However, his ideas and plans remain an important foundation for Thailand’s transportation systems to this day.