The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has announced that it will complete the development of tactile maps for visually impaired commuters on the northern section of the MRT Purple Line by September 1, 2025. The move follows a directive from the Supreme Administrative Court aimed at improving accessibility in public transport.
The maps will be installed at all 16 stations along the MRT Purple Line’s northern extension, running between Tao Poon and Bang Yai. These accessibility features are designed to assist blind or visually impaired passengers in navigating the transit system independently and safely. According to MRTA acting governor, Witiya Phanmongkhon, the organization is committed to meeting the 120-day deadline set by the court following its ruling on May 1, 2025.
The court ruling came after legal action requested improvements in facilities for disabled passengers. Although the court dismissed a demand for additional elevators, it mandated the installation of navigation maps for the visually impaired. The MRTA has stated that it accepts the court’s decision and is taking steps to comply fully.
The new maps will be modeled after an existing prototype currently installed at MRT Phra Nang Klao Station, which connects to the Phra Nang Klao pier. The tactile maps will include raised symbols and Braille text to ensure they are usable by blind passengers. MRTA emphasizes that these enhancements are in line with Thailand’s 2013 ministerial regulations requiring transportation services to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Currently, an estimated 450 disabled passengers use the Purple Line daily. Across all four MRT lines managed by the MRTA—including the Blue, Yellow, and Pink lines—the total number of daily users with disabilities stands at approximately 4,000. Among these, the Blue Line sees over 2,000 such users per day, while the Yellow and Pink lines accommodate around 600 and 830 users daily, respectively.
The MRTA also reiterated that all stations under its jurisdiction have been constructed following universal design principles, ensuring accessibility for passengers of all ages and abilities. Features such as wheelchair ramps, tactile paving, elevators, and accessible walkways are already in place. However, the agency acknowledged that updates to legal standards may have led to some omissions, which it now intends to address. The same standards will be applied to new lines currently under construction or planned for the future.
Witiya noted that this legal case serves as a reminder to reassess all existing stations to ensure no critical accessibility features have been overlooked. The MRTA will continue to work toward inclusive transit infrastructure in compliance with national guidelines.
