Bangkok is a beautiful city—that’s an undeniable fact. However, walking in the torrential rain in the monsoon season isn’t an ideal scenario to enjoy the great outdoors. Soon, thanks to the latest project by the BMA, Bangkok residents will no longer have to.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has jumpstarted the construction of a new covered walkway as part of the smart city initiative, which is aimed at improving the quality of life in the Thai capital. A collaboration between the Public Works Department and the Urban Design and Development Center (UDDC), the project takes inspiration from the covered footpaths in Singapore and Taiwan. These paths protect pedestrians from the sun and rain and provide more convenience for moving around the city on foot, which in turn helps to alleviate traffic issues.

The debut of this pedestrian route is set to be completed along South Sathorn Road by the end of 2025. With a total length of 1.6 kilometers, it will link to MRT Lumpini and the Chong Nonsi Skywalk. The first phase of the upcoming walkway boasts a budget of 20,523,000 baht.