Bangkok: Two experts in intelligent traffic systems and public transportation proposed solutions to traffic and public transportation problems at a forum called "Fah Mai Forum." They identified data management as a key element, creating new business models, and using cities as testing grounds. They also pointed out that traffic problems can't simply be solved with new buses or more electric trains, but rather by addressing the structural changes in administrative power, centralizing authority at the local level, and creating a "walking ecosystem."
According to Thai News Agency, on April 27, 2026, the Democrat Party held its second seminar, "UNLOCK THE CITY: Smart Systems, Public Transportation, and the Future of the City," as part of the "Fah Mai Forum.A Platform for Discussing All of Bangkok's Problems: Unsolvable or Not Being Solved?" The seminar featured two experts in smart traffic and public transportation systems: Prof. Dr. Ekachai Sumalee, Deputy Director of the Institute of Integrated Innovation, Chulalongkorn University, and Dr. Sumet Ongkittikul, a researcher from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Dr. Narisara Limthanakul served as the moderator.
Professor Dr. Ekachai discussed the topic of solving traffic problems, presenting the concept of transforming Bangkok into a Smart City using modern transportation technologies and models. He redefined Smart City in relation to transportation, stating that a Smart City isn't just about having cutting-edge technology but about introducing "new tools" to address the basic needs of urban residents in three main dimensions: environmental (reducing pollution from travel), safety (increasing confidence in using roads and transportation systems), and travel (ensuring smooth and predictable flow).
Professor Dr. Ekachai explained that key tools include the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI. IoT should connect all devices, providing real-time traffic information, such as knowing how much space is available for upcoming buses. AI (Artificial Intelligence) should be used as the "brain" to analyze vast amounts of data without loss, managing a traffic system too complex for humans to control entirely. He emphasized that the solution to traffic congestion isn't building more roads, but managing data effectively. The core principle is creating a new business model, using the city as a "Living Lab" to attract technology investment. If all transportation systems can be integrated into a single platform, it will not only reduce traffic congestion but also create "new business areas" that will transform Bangkok, grow sustainably, and reduce the hidden economic costs of time spent on the road.
Dr. Sumet addressed the structural problems of Bangkok's public transportation system, stating that the root cause stems from uncontrolled urban planning and expansion, leading to widespread residential areas and a rapid increase in transportation demand. Regarding cost-effectiveness, expressways cost tens of billions of baht, while the mass transit system (BTS) costs 50-100 billion baht and currently operates almost entirely at a loss. Due to limited government funding, private sector investment is required, resulting in high fares and insufficient coverage. Concerning the crisis of buses, historically the "backbone" of Bangkok's transportation system, their usage has decreased by over 30% due to management failures and a failed administrative cycle.
Dr. Sumet emphasized that the biggest problem is "decision-making power," because Bangkok residents don't actually make decisions about Bangkok. Planning, oversight, and implementation power are scattered across numerous central government agencies that lack shared goals (fragmented governance). Bangkok's traffic problems won't be solved with new buses or trains; instead, the solution lies in centralizing administrative power structures and creating a "walkability ecosystem." Mass transit systems are most effective when they are easily and safely accessible from the moment people leave their homes.