A plan to develop 10 more areas into smart cities has been approved by a sub-committee overseeing the management of the project, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister, Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn, said yesterday.
The minister said three areas in Bangkok, two in Chiang Mai and one each in Trang, Yala, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Nakhon Sawan will see improvements to their digital infrastructure as they will be developed into smart cities.
The three areas in Bangkok which will be developed under the smart city concept are located along Rama IV Road, Klong Phadung Krung Kasem and Makkasan. Meanwhile, similar development will be carried out in Chiang Mai's Old Town in Muang district, and Chiang Mai University.
The areas' development into smart cities is expected to bring significant improvements to the economy, mobility, energy use, living conditions, human resources, governance and environment, he said.
The sub-committee has also approved a budget proposal for the project, which will be submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, as the chairman of the national steering committee on smart city development, Mr Chaiwut said.
The minister added 15 cities will be certified as smart cities and receive their official logos in November.
The government is planning to develop more areas using the smart city principle -- including Bangkok's Sam Yan neighbourhood, Rayong's Wangchan Valley, Lampang's Mae Mo district, as well as downtown Khon Kaen and the island of Phuket -- as part of its 20-year national development strategy.