Cable car project for Phu Kradueng National Park is proceeding well

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is proceeding with the cable car project in Loei province’s Phu Kradueng National Park, expecting that the design and environmental impacts assessment (EIA) will be completed within two years.

The Budget Bureau has allocated 25.7 million baht to the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) for the design of the project, to undertake the EIA and to oversee the construction of the cable car, estimated to cost about one billion baht.

The National Parks Department’s director-general, Atthaphon Charoenchansa, said that the project is divided into two phases, with the first concerning the construction of the cable car and the second concerning management of the project and the development of service facilities, such as accommodation at the foot of the mountain for aging tourists, who may find it inconvenient to camp out at the top of the mountain.

Regarding the cable car, he disclosed that DASTA have studied several models in European countries and may opt for the single tower design, which will reduce the cable car’s support footprint on the forest floor.

Atthaphon noted that opposition to the cable car has eased.

He also said that the department is considering the installation of a small-scale electric train system on the mountain top, to facilitate travel by elderly tourists, adding that the department may introduce safari-type tours around the park, on roads which are closed to traffic due to the presence of wild elephants in the area.