Mitraphap highway emptyTraffic on Mitraphap highway in Nakhon Ratchasima is unusually light on Sunday as people forego travel to their hometowns during the Songkran holiday that would have started on Monday were it not for the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)The Mitraphap or Friendship highway from Saraburi to Nakhon Ratchasima, the main gateway to other northeastern provinces, is all but empty amid the cancellation of the Songkran festival and the long Songkran holiday as well as the imposition of travel restrictions to limit the Covid-19 outbreak. Local people said this phenomenon is the first of its kind in 62 years since the construction of the Mitraphap highway was completed in 1958. Days ahead of the Songkran holiday, the highway is usually jammed with all kinds of vehicles transporting revellers to their hometowns to celebrate the traditional New Year. The situation is similar along the highway through Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani ending at Nong Khai.

Source: Bangkok Post April 12, 2020 06:33 UTC