CHIANG RAI, 24 September 2013 Chiang Rai province has announced the launch of the “City Line” mass transit project aimed at improving links to tourism sites and alleviating traffic problems in the city area.
According to Yongyut Tiyaphairat, the president of ‘Love Chiang Rai Foundation’, the pilot project will cover 13 kilometers of distance between the city and Mae Fa Luang University. There will be 4 stations, comprising the “Asean Flower” Station at the Fang Min civil service complex: the “Art” Station at Chiang Rai Airport, the “Fruit” Station at the intersection to Thakhaoplueak sub-district, and the OTOP Station at Mae Fa Luang University. Each station will have one rai of area for facilities to accommodate passengers, and each station will also have spots for the sale of OTOP products.
The City Line will first be developed as asphalt road, and will be serviced with buses. The longer-term plan is to develop the route into a rail system.
Chiang Rai locals will be able to use the service at no charge simply by showing their ID cards. The service is expected to begin before the integration into the ASEAN Community in 2015.
