Funding approved for long-awaited park cable car project
Getting' things movin' at Phu Kradueng National Park! The long-awaited cable car project's on the up-and-up after bagging a 25.7-mil baht budget for its design.
Atthapol Charoenchansa, the big cheese at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), spilled the beans on the new ride. The proposed 3km route might kick off at Pha Mak Dook, with the first phase setting site-seeing folks back a hefty one billion baht. Following that, there'll be a second phase for beefing up facilities and an environmental impact study.
Most locals seem to dig the plan, though some zones with the roamin' elephants might be locked down for good. Still, safari-style tours are on the table to draw more tourists.
Enrichment data:- Planned Route: The cable car is slated to commence from Pha Mak Dook, covering approximately 3 kilometers[1].- Costs: The initial design phase got 25.7 million baht, while the full project's estimated at a cool one billion[1][2].- Wildlife Impact: To safeguard wild elephant habitats, some areas may be off-limits, but that paves the way for safari-style tours that'll appeal to tourists without disturbing the wildlife[1][2].- Tourism Impact: The project hopes to lure in more tourists, showcasing the park's breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife[1][2].- Development Phases and Additional Features: The project's divided into two phases: the first focuses on constructin' the cable car, and the second on manageability and facility improvements, like lodgin' for ageing tourists or a small-scale electric train system up top[2]. Spicin' things up, DNP's considerin' a single tower design to keep the cable car's impact minimal on the forest floor[2].
- The proposed cable car route in Phu Kradueng National Park is expected to begin at Pha Mak Dook, spanning a distance of approximately 3km.
- The initial design phase of the cable car project has been granted a budget of 25.7 million baht, with the full project estimated to cost a billion baht.
- To ensure the safety of wild elephants, certain areas might be restricted, potentially leading to the introduction of safari-style tours that attract tourists without disturbing the wildlife.
- The cable car project aims to boost tourism by showcasing the park's stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife, with plans for additional features such as lodging for aging tourists and a small-scale electric train system.
