Two MoUs signed for cable car project at Phu Kradueng National Park

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNPWPC) and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) are determined to press ahead with the construction of a 4km-long cable car in Phu Kradueng National Park in the northeastern province of Loei, tentatively set for completion in 2028.

Two memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed on Friday by the department, DASTA and the Faculty of Architecture of Chulalongkorn University for the systematic development of tourism areas, as well as study and research in the Phu Kradueng National Park.

DNPWPC Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa said that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is currently being undertaken by the Faculty of Architecture, which is expected to be completed in the middle of this year.

He pointed out that the key issues in this project are compliance with the law and regulations and that the project must have the lowest possible impact on the environment of the park, which has been a contentious issue for the past 30 years, since the cable car project was first proposed.

He is optimistic that the EIA report will not see objections from environmental groups, adding that the project will proceed once the report is approved.

Commenting on the Pha Mark Dook cliff being designated as a location for the building of a tower for the cable car, Athapol said it is just one of the options, but most suitable for the cable car route without impacting the trekking route or blocking the view for those using it.

Even if there were a cable car to get to the top of this popular mountainous retreat, he said that the national park will still be subject to seasonal closure to allow nature to rehabilitate.

Meanwhile, DASTA Director Siripakorn Cheawsamoot said that the public organisation is tasked with designing the cable car, which is expected to be of the mono cable detachable gondola type, with a total of 32 cable cars carrying passengers to and garbage from the summit.



The cable car will be able to carry 368 passengers to the mountain top per hour, or 3,680 people per day, and will operate about 240 days annually from October to May.