Hat yai: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, announced an ambitious infrastructure plan aimed at preventing recurrent flooding in Hat Yai. The proposal includes the construction of a 50-meter-wide ring road and drainage canal system that promises to improve water management and mitigate flood risks in the region.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phiphat highlighted the recent severe flooding in Hat Yai District as a warning sign of the inadequacy of the existing drainage system. Floodwaters inundated the city from three directions, overwhelming the current infrastructure and causing significant disruption. The floodwaters entered from the east, west, and south, while the sole drainage outlet to Songkhla Lake in the north was overwhelmed, with water levels rising 2-3 meters above the canal banks.

In response, a comprehensive study led by Mr. Phiphat and Prof. Dr. Bowornsak, along with top executives from the Ministry of Transport, surveyed the affected areas. They engaged with local authorities and academics to develop a long-term solution for Hat Yai’s water and road infrastructure. The Ministry of Transport plans to work swiftly with relevant agencies to widen and deepen the city’s main canals and improve water gates and pumping stations.

The centerpiece of the long-term solution is the Hat Yai City Ring Road, which will serve dual purposes: alleviating traffic congestion and enhancing flood management. The ring road will include parallel drainage canals designed to channel water efficiently out of the city into Songkhla Lake. Equipped with strategically placed water gates and pumping stations, the new infrastructure aims to prevent future flooding.

Mr. Phiphat emphasized the urgency of implementing these measures, stating that multiple outlets are necessary to manage the city’s water flow effectively. The ring road project is envisioned as an integral part of Hat Yai’s future city planning, ensuring resilience against flooding for the next 20 to 30 years.