State Of The Roads Reflect Thailand's Social Inequality

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STREET WISE

State of the roads reflect country's social inequality

By Achara Deboonme

The Nation

Better road access is a dream to all. Landlords are smiling when roads are cut past their land, promising a brighter future and profits for their land.

Some farmers, on the other hand, might be grumpy if new roads require excavation of the entire or part of their small pieces of land, but others are gleeful as the work promises more trucks into their villages for direct crop purchases.

Hotel operators and restaurants can expect more traffic.

Driving back to Khon Kaen becomes such a pleasant thing to do these days, with the four-lane road that significantly shortens the 400-odd-km distance. Notably, the 80km route from Khon Kaen to the western district of Chum Phae offers great convenience to travellers, as it can take only 40 minutes compared to an hour and a half when it was a two-lane road.

It was making this trip that showed us that no matter how much we try, not all Thais are treated similarly.

While the route to Khon Kaen was so smooth, the route to Chum Phae via Chaiyaphum was rough and took much longer despite a similar distance.

Rough conditions were apparent shortly after we took the left course via Si Khiew district in Nakhon Ratchasima. For a while, motorists needed to go slowly, say at less than 80km per hour, due to big holes in the four-lane highway. On the left hand, there was a sign that the road was under maintenance as local authorities are waiting for government funding.

But once travellers entered Chaiyaphum territory, they were treated to a smooth ride. However, they had to pass many vehicles to gain speed, given that it was a two-lane road. Chum Phae was only 100km ahead, but it took an hour and a half.

Certainly, Chaiyaphum may want to expand the road width to cover four lanes. Unfortunately, budgets often go first to the provinces with larger populations, as they are represented by more politicians. That explains why we can see only four-lane main roads in Nakhon Ratchasima.

If the minimum wage is used to determine the economic potential of each province, Nakhon Ratchasima is demonstrably more important than Chaiyaphum. While workers in Nakhon Ratchasima earn Bt173 per day, those in the Chaiyaphum earn Bt156. Worse, the gap is being widened with the Central Wage Committee last week agreeing to raise minimum wages in Nakhon Ratchasima by Bt10 against Bt9 in Chaiyaphum.

This is not unique, though. Road conditions in Lampang could never be as good as those in nearby Chiang Mai. The convenience partly explains why Chiang Mai has been the top destination in the North, given that most Northern provinces are also culturally rich.

Poor road conditions only put farmers in smaller provinces at a disadvantage. If they own a pickup, the vehicle will be worn out sooner than a truck owned by farmers in a province with better road conditions. With improved roads and higher income, they can shop and dine out more - generating more income to local businesses and the entire provincial economy.

I guess this kind of inequality requires a huge sum to fix.

-- The Nation 2010-12-27

[billd766]

Up where I live in rural Khampaeng Phet the main route 1117 from Khampaeng Phet to the Mae Wong national park is a very good 2 lane road and for the most part of its 62km is smooth and not needing repair.

The upgrade started about 5 years ago and was reasonably well done.

A good part of the route 1072 from Klong Lan to Lat Yao has been completed as well though there is one section of some 6km that has been resurfaced 3 times in 6 years and in some places is badly holed.

Last year a bridge was built just opposite my place as a short cut from the 1117 to the 1072 and while the bridge is fine now when they built it across the klong I gave them some advice about the heavy rain.

This of course was ignored as what does a big fat farang know about things like this. Well they put 3 small drainpipes into the klong which were washed away by the first heavy rain, and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th time after which I gave up on them. Allin all they got washed away 6 times before the bridge was completed.

Now we have a really good bridge and tarmac road leading 7 km to the route 1072.

It is such a pity that 3 1/2 km in the middle is the same dirt road, not widened or surfaced as it always was.

Somehow they ran out of money to finish it I understand.

Some places get it right first time and some don't.

[OzMick]

Ms Achara needs a short lesson in economics. The quality of the roads are NOT a reflection of social inequality, but of 2 other factors. By far the largest factor is the amount of tax paid by the people of the province, levelled out by disproportionate handouts from the federal government to OVERCOME social inequality.

The second factor is the level of corruption in the province, either siphoning off development funds or allowing shoddy work by contractors. The further the province from federal oversight, the more likely this is to occur.

Bangkok has some of the poorest people in Thailand, and some of the worst roads.

By the way, the idea of building hugely expensive highways that very few drive on, and bridges to nowhere, is called pork-barrelling. Happens in many countries and is generally frowned upon.

[SantiSuk]

Ms Achara needs a short lesson in economics. The quality of the roads are NOT a reflection of social inequality, but of 2 other factors. By far the largest factor is the amount of tax paid by the people of the province, levelled out by disproportionate handouts from the federal government to OVERCOME social inequality.

The second factor is the level of corruption in the province, either siphoning off development funds or allowing shoddy work by contractors. The further the province from federal oversight, the more likely this is to occur.

Bangkok has some of the poorest people in Thailand, and some of the worst roads.

By the way, the idea of building hugely expensive highways that very few drive on, and bridges to nowhere, is called pork-barrelling. Happens in many countries and is generally frowned upon.

Agree - no correlation whatsoever between economy and road condition. Here in SiSaket and Ubon Provinces, especially in a one hundred mile radius of those two big towns the roads are excellent, particularly considering that populations are not that dense. But in Surin they have one of the heaviest trafficked sections of road - other than Highway 2 - in Issan. They can't be bothered to upgrade it from a slow crawling two laner (talking about Highway 24). Bleeding disgrace and obviously the state of the roads is down to the motivation and effectiveness of local politicians.

I reckon the Ubon local politicians must be quite farsighted - they have been building a network of fast roads into that town that will support a much larger population; result: the place is growing fast and wealth is spreading throughout that community. The highway between Ubon and SiSaket is one of the best and well-lasting surfaced roads in Thailand.

The most stunning example I have come across of politics screwing with sensible road development is the main road between two very wealthy towns - Pattaya and Hat Jomtien. Anyone who has traveled it in the last five years (during which time it has been and still is under reconstruction!!) will agree I am sure. That road is only 2 km long by the way and does not involve any road widening. In any other sensible journalistically challenging nation, those responsible would have been publicly hung out to dry a long time ago.

Edited December 27, 2010 by SantiSuk

[LanxangBillybob]

The traffic from Khon Kaen going south is much heavier than Chiaphum-Chumpae traffic, thus the need for a wider highway. I think many visitors are pretty impressed with the overall condition of roads. But just like in the U.S., you can't expect grade A highways everywhere.

[monkfish]

Is the Nation referring to the 38 Billion Baht Dust Free Roads?

Or just a general observation how roads are reflecting social inequality in Thailand?

[Thai at Heart]

Forget whether the roads are good or not, half the traffic is 10 wheel trucks and buses which if the rail networks ever get organised will swallow 90% of this traffic.

Then there will be quite good roads up country with very little traffic on them at all. Whatever will the local politicians come up with to skim if the roads don't need any fixing any more?

[housepainter]

I thought it too a poor article with no clear correlation between poverty, the roads, the economy, taxes, employment levels or demography.

What I do know is that a new road is a licence to print money. I've just driven from Korat to Aranyaprathet and stretches are newly made. I'm not referring to the 24 either. However, incredulous as it seems, there are 100 metre stretches where the old pitted and wornj out road has been left before a new stretch continues.

Also, on the ealier laid stretches already the holes are appearing along with the ruts. I don't understand how anyone can live with themselves when they do such a crappy job. Even much nearer to home patching is done. It lasts days only and then they come back and make a better botch of it at the second attempt.

The corruption ruins this country. That's just the way it is. A cowed, frightened people without the will to change their lot. As a result I have little sympathy for them. They're truly pathetic. So what can you do with them?

[Bagwan]

Deleted. Duplicate entry

Edited December 27, 2010 by Bagwan

[Bagwan]

I do not see any correlation either. Road 21 from Saraburi to Petchabun suits me fine and I can bowl along merrily. There is dual carriageway for the entire length and the traffic once clear of Saraburi is sparse at all times. I wouldn't say that Petchabun is all that prosperous. The road onward to Lomsak is being upgraded to dual carriageway and the completed bits are just fine. Not a lot of jam on the locals bread here either.

The condition of the surface of parts of Pattay Tai are a disgrace but then I remember who the Mayor is.