☀️ Good morning! Motorbike-only lane is now open on Rama 9 (Soi 39-53); check out the pictures. Voters are heading for a constitutional referendum; here’s what you need to know. Check out this piece on water monitors in Lumphini Park.

That’s the BRT Sathorn line’s rough monthly revenue, in baht, under its “honor system” — virtually unchanged from when staff sold tickets.

Why it matters: Under the old system, the city spent about 3 million baht a month on staff salaries to collect that same amount. By removing fare collectors in November 2024, the city turned a break-even operation into a leaner one.

State of play: Random checks are in place with a fine of 20 times the fare, which is 300 baht. The flat fare is 15 baht.

Bangkok councilors are pushing to overhaul fire safety protocols in dense neighborhoods, citing narrow sois and electrical faults that current infrastructure can’t handle.

Why it matters: Fire trucks can’t fit into many of the city’s soi networks, leaving residents without adequate hydrants or extinguishers.

Driving the news: A fatal November fire at Wutthakat 42 in Chom Thong that destroyed three homes spurred the council’s motion to establish new fire management guidelines.

By the numbers: A total of 1,745 fires were reported in Bangkok between 2023 and 2025, with 47% of them caused by electrical appliances and wiring.

What they’re saying: Councilors pointed to rules that provide only one extinguisher per five households in registered communities. Residents living outside these zones get no support, and refilling extinguishers is also a slow process tied to complex budget rules.

The proposal: The motion advocates installing hydrants and extinguishers every 50 meters in high-risk zones, increasing the budget for volunteer training and modernized firefighting technology.

What’s next: Officials said the city plans to deploy volunteers to inspect private homes for old electrical wiring, which the city can’t legally upgrade. They also aim to start installing extinguishers for residents outside registered communities by 2027.

Flashback: In July 2023, the city was going to install 258 new fire hydrants through a partnership with the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority within 210 days. That hasn’t happened due to stalled payments.

🗺️ Check out your area in Bangkok’s fire risk map.

Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt faces a lawsuit alleging negligence over the city’s toxic air, even as he claims his administration halved pollution levels.

Why it matters: With PM 2.5 levels in Bangkok frequently hitting the “unhealthy” ranges, the health toll is mounting. About 10 million patients were treated for pollution-related conditions in state hospitals nationwide last year.

Driving the news: The lawsuit, filed by Srisuwan Janya, accuses Chadchart of neglecting his duty to control the pollution, despite the city’s expanded authority granted from the pollution control zone designation.

By the numbers: December 2024 saw 10 days with “unhealthy” pollution levels, compared to six days in December 2025, according to data from the Environmental Department. For Jan. 1-20, 14 days were “unhealthy” in 2025, compared to seven days in 2026.

The other side: Chadchart attributed the drop to stricter controls on black smoke, a citywide burning ban, his “15-minute” pocket parks, low-emission zone regulations and work-from-home initiatives ahead of days when pollution levels are predicted to be bad.

The quote: “I have to tell you that this is not a fluke,” Chadchart said. “We don’t only have plans for the days with high dust, we have plans for 365 days.”

Dig deeper: A councilor asked if the city can install air purifier towers — a proposal the governor rejected. He said the budget is better spent tackling the pollution source rather than installing expensive equipment.

After 730 complaints since October 2024, city officials say measures to mitigate toxic odors from the On Nut waste complex are underway.

Why it matters: At least 1,900 nearby households, including Sirindhorn Hospital patients, have been exposed to the smell for years, especially during the cooler months.

The status: Double-door airlocks and odor tunnels are being installed, targeting a 90% reduction in leakage. A green wall of 6-meter trees is being planted to filter dust and block smells. Six sensors have been installed to monitor the air quality.

Flashback: Part of the reason the issue persists was that the city failed to enforce contracts with private operators, a deputy governor admitted in July, as Soiciety previously reported.

Transit giant BTS Group launched “Ban Chao Thai,” a project helping residents own homes near transit lines for less than typical rent.

Why it matters: With soaring household debt and a bank rejection rate of about 40%, the project targets the lower-middle-income and first-jobber markets with a lease-to-own model backed fully by government bank financing.

By the numbers: The starting price for the 12,000 planned units (30-60 square meters) is 1.6 million baht, capped at a maximum of 2 million baht. A down payment isn’t required.

The locations: The first target areas are Srinakarin near the Yellow Line, Thana City on Bang Na-Trad Road and Khlong Luang near Thammasat University.

Zooming in: The Srinakarin project includes 4,150 units in no more than 23 eight-story buildings on a 42-rai land area. The Khlong Luang project includes 7,500 units across about 60 buildings on a 120-rai plot.

What’s next: Registration is currently open for interested residents to check eligibility. Non-Thai citizens can register as well. The company eyes September to break ground on the first Srinakarin construction.

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