The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is preparing to launch its first commercial land development project in the Praram 9 (Rama IX) area of Bangkok, drawing on Japan’s transit-oriented development (TOD) model. The initiative follows a study visit by MRTA officials to Japan’s Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) and is expected to be submitted to the MRTA board and cabinet for approval, with project commencement targeted for early 2026.
The proposed development will be located in the Huai Khwang–Rama IX corridor and will utilise MRTA-owned depot land, avoiding the need for land expropriation. The project is planned as a mixed-use TOD, integrating residential, office, healthcare, retail and mobility facilities with direct access to mass transit. The site benefits from connectivity to the MRT Blue Line and the future Orange Line, supporting seamless intermodal transfers.
The project concept is informed by Japan’s Shinagawa TOD development, a 30-hectare rail-linked urban regeneration project stretching between Shinagawa Station and Takanawa Gateway Station. The Shinagawa project integrates high-speed rail, urban rail, buses and emerging technologies such as autonomous security systems and AI-based navigation, and serves as a reference for compact, low-carbon urban development.
MRTA expects the Praram 9 TOD project to generate non-fare revenue, helping to improve the financial sustainability of urban rail operations and potentially subsidise passenger fares. The pilot phase will focus on health-related services, reflecting anticipated growth in the healthcare and wellness sector in Bangkok’s central business districts.