Bangkok (People’s Daily) – A new skywalk is planned for the busiest commercial district in Bangkok, linking 18 buildings and potentially serving a million people a day.
The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) says the 1,150-meter "R-Walk" project is intended to join with public transport as well as provide convenient access to offices, shops, hotels and Bangkok’s famous Erawan shrine.
The area hopes to attract 1 million visitors per day during the high season.
Ratchaprasong District has more than 4,000 rooms in five-star hotels and 5,500 shops.
The Ratchaprasong Walk, an ongoing construction project since 2002, has a construction budget of Bt715 million ($21.5 million) to connect Big C supercenter on Ratchadamri Road to Chit Lom BTS station to Chaloem Phao Junction, Gaysorn Village and Platinum Fashion Mall.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang briefs the media on the skywalk. (Photos: Sun Guangyong/People's Daily)
It is currently used by around 100,000 people a day.
Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang, governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said, “Ratchaprasong is an area that never ceases to develop and is determined to become Thailand’s prominent business and lifestyle district.
"The ‘Ratchaprasong model’ indeed serves as an example of the country’s first business, lifestyle and tourism district that completely connects to public transport – an integral drive for business, tourism and lifestyle activities. Ratchaprasong is a district with the highest number of tourists in the country, creating a huge amount of revenue for Thailand.
"It is an icon of success — a sign of collaboration between public and private sectors to come up with a concrete development strategy.
"The 'R-Walk’ elevates Ratchaprasong to the next level of modernity and convenience, especially for tourists."
