PATTAYA, Thailand – During a hard-fought re-election campaign, Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, known as Mayor Beer, faced repeated questions from residents about the city’s ongoing road excavations and construction delays. Addressing the concerns during his popular “Talk to Beer” program, Poramet explained that the disruption was necessary as Pattaya carries out major infrastructure upgrades to support its rapid growth. Now, after receiving official certification from Thailand’s Election Commission to return for a second term, Poramet said he will continue major projects launched during his first administration while introducing new initiatives aimed at improving Pattaya’s infrastructure and quality of life. He also apologized to residents and motorists for the inconvenience caused by construction, saying he understands public frustration and remains committed to improving project management.
Poramet explained that Pattaya’s rapid expansion has made large-scale infrastructure upgrades unavoidable. The city now serves an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 permanent and temporary residents while welcoming more than 27 million visitors each year, placing increasing pressure on roads, drainage systems, electricity networks and water supplies. The mayor stressed that many residents mistakenly believe Pattaya City is responsible for every road excavation. In reality, he said, most construction work is carried out by three separate government agencies, each responsible for different parts of the city’s infrastructure. The first is Pattaya City itself, which is investing in new drainage systems to tackle long-standing flooding problems. Pattaya sits at the end of a watershed, receiving runoff from neighboring Nongprue Municipality and Nong Pla Lai Municipality before water eventually drains into the sea. Much of the existing drainage network was built with pipes only about 60 centimeters in diameter, which are no longer sufficient for today’s urban environment.
To address the problem, the city is gradually upgrading drainage systems at more than 20 flood-prone locations, with more than half of the projects already completed. Poramet said a comprehensive flood management system for Pattaya would require more than 9.5 billion baht in investment, based on studies by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning.
Due to budget limitations, the city is carrying out the work in stages, focusing on priority areas while ensuring that future projects can connect with larger government infrastructure networks. The second agency involved is the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), which is responsible for placing overhead power and communication cables underground. The project covers nine routes totaling approximately 20 kilometers, with six routes already completed, including Pattaya North Road, Pattaya Central Road and Walking Street.
The underground utility program is designed to improve safety, reduce visual clutter and strengthen Pattaya’s image as a world-class tourism destination. The third agency is the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA), which is replacing aging water pipelines and improving water pressure throughout the city. Many existing pipelines have exceeded their service life, suffer frequent leaks and are no longer capable of meeting demand from Pattaya’s growing population and tourism industry. Without these upgrades, officials warn that some areas could face water supply problems in the future.
Poramet noted that several major infrastructure projects have already been completed, including drainage improvements, underground utility works and water system upgrades. After underground construction is completed, Pattaya City repairs and improves affected roads, with new surfaces already completed on roads including Soi Khao Talo and Soi Pornprapanimit. Work is currently continuing along both sides of the railway parallel road, while future improvements are planned for Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya Second Road and other major transport routes.
The mayor acknowledged that construction inevitably creates inconvenience for residents, businesses and visitors. However, he said the projects are long-term investments that will improve flood prevention, electricity reliability, water distribution and road quality for years to come. “As inconvenient as these projects may be today, they are investments in Pattaya’s future,” Poramet said, thanking residents for their patience and understanding. He added that the goal is not simply to repair roads, but to build the infrastructure needed for Pattaya to remain both a livable city for residents and a sustainable world-class destination for millions of visitors each year.
