PATTAYA, Thailand – City workers in Pattaya have begun clearing encroached public land in a neighborhood road expansion project, after a city official respectfully paid tribute to a roadside spirit shrine before its removal.
A short video shared on Facebook by Thipchai Rattanaveerathavorn, Director of Infrastructure Development at Pattaya City Hall, shows him performing a traditional Thai wai to the shrine before placing the small dancer figurines into a plastic bag.
The clip included the message:
“Please allow it… public land, for the benefit of everyone.”
The post quickly attracted a variety of comments online, with some people suggesting traditional food offerings should be made, while others humorously warned the official to be careful.
Reporters later visited the site inside Soi Pornprapanimit 2 (Soi Siam Country Club) , where city authorities are removing structures that had encroached on public land.
The spirit shrine had been located at a roadside corner and was among the structures removed to allow road widening aimed at improving traffic flow for residents and visitors. The project is part of an ongoing effort by Pattaya City Hall to reclaim public land and improve infrastructure.
According to city officials, workers initially hesitated to dismantle the shrine. Thipchai then respectfully informed the spirits before the removal proceeded.
