Bangkok: MEA (Metropolitan Electricity Authority) is spearheading a major initiative to transform Pracha Rat Road Soi 2 by removing all electricity poles and communication cables, thereby creating a pole-and-wire-free zone that integrates a stable electrical system while enhancing the city's landscape for sustainable beauty.
According to Thai News Agency, MEA has partnered with various agencies to organize the "Pracharath Sai 2 Transformation: A Beautiful, Pole-Free Street" activity, which involves the removal of electricity poles and communication cables in front of the Gateway at Bang Sue shopping mall. This effort follows the completion of an underground power cable system, with MEA aiming to complete the removal of all remaining poles by February 26, 2026, to ensure electrical system stability and public safety. The old poles will be donated to support border security initiatives.
Mr. Ronachai Ruangyuth, Deputy Governor of MEA, and Mr. Chatchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, presided over the opening ceremony for the event 'Pracharat Sai 2 Transformed into a Beautiful, Pole-Free Road.' MEA has been actively working on projects to convert overhead power lines to underground cables, contributing to the upgrade of Bangkok into a smart city. The recent activity included the removal of communication cables, power lines, and utility poles along the 1.4-kilometer stretch from Bang Pho Pier to Prachachuen Road, as part of the broader overhead to underground cable conversion project. This initiative saw excellent cooperation from partner agencies, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Department of Public Works, and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), among others.
The Deputy Governor of MEA highlighted that the project commenced in 2021, with MEA completing the power distribution system conversion by the end of 2025. The undergrounding of power lines is expected to enhance power supply stability, improve safety, reduce accident risks, and contribute to a more aesthetically pleasing cityscape. As of now, MEA has completed 105.3 kilometers of the overhead to underground conversion, with a target to finish an additional 39.9 kilometers by 2026, totaling 145.2 kilometers. The master plan aims to complete a 317.3-kilometer route by 2032.
In terms of resource management and the Circular Economy, the Deputy Governor of MEA mentioned that 209 electricity poles are set for removal on Pracha Rat Road 2. While these poles are typically used for coastal erosion protection in Samut Prakan province, MEA has received a request from the military to repurpose them for national security reasons in a disputed border area between Thailand and Cambodia.