Petchrat Naichomphu, Chiang Mai MP from the People's Party, urges scrutiny of the new "Chiang Mai Comprehensive City Plan" approved by the Cabinet, asking for whom the city's transformation is intended and why the government does not allow local authorities to decide.
18 Mar 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Petchrat Naichomphu, Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai District 1, People's Party, posted her opinion throughFacebookregarding the new Chiang Mai comprehensive city plan which the Cabinet approved on 17 Mar 2026 (see also: Cabinet approves new Chiang Mai city plan expanding coverage to 7 districts ) She stated that the Cabinet has approved the new comprehensive city plan for Chiang Mai. In her view, a city plan is a “compass” indicating what life in Chiang Mai will be like in the next 10–20 years. Updating the plan is necessary, but the key question she invites everyone to ask and demand answers from the government is:
1. Eighteen new roads: Who benefits, and will it truly alleviate traffic congestion? Adding roads can be positive, but it must not simply benefit large real estate projects or cut through traditional communities, destroying their way of life. We need to see a “public transportation system” connected to these roads, not just more roads encouraging more private cars and worsening traffic.
2. Land use in 15 categories: Is there still space for small-scale residents? The expansion of “high-density residential” and “rural conservation” zones must clearly avoid freezing local residents’ livelihoods while allowing investors to lease cheap land for speculation. The plan must protect the housing rights of original inhabitants, not displace urban poor to the outskirts.
3. How comprehensive was the public consultation? The government claims it has conducted public consultations, but in reality, the process has been criticized as merely procedural. Residents in alleys and small vendors may not even realize their homes or shops have been rezoned. I will use parliamentary mechanisms to review the attached plan details to check for omissions or discrepancies with actual local needs.
4. Green spaces and flood retention areas: Do they really prevent flooding or are they just nominal? Chiang Mai recently faced a major flood crisis. This city plan must address water drainage and systematic water retention, rather than allowing water-absorbing areas to become concrete jungles.
5. Although the Cabinet has approved the plan, the actual map details remain unknown to the public. Even in the Cabinet’s full meeting summary, the map images that would help residents understand how their areas are designated have not been released, potentially damaging residents’ rights.
Ms. Petchrat added, As a Chiang Mai resident and MP, the city plan must be livable and beneficial. I will compile a simplified summary of this plan for Chiang Mai residents to understand how their homes may be affected. If anyone suspects irregularities or worries about new road routes impacting farmland, please send information to me and the People's Party team for review. Chiang Mai must grow sustainably, centered on its people, not just economic figures for investors.
She also questioned why the Ministry of Interior (central government) is the primary decision-maker for Chiang Mai’s city plan, rather than granting full decision-making authority to local authorities (provincial administrative organization or municipalities) who better understand the local issues.