Bangkok finally gets long-awaited new public buses

[webfact]

Bangkok finally gets long-awaited new public buses

By The Nation

 

 

Bangkokians’ long wait for modern and environment-friendly public buses has finally ended. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has started running its new air-conditioned, natural gas for vehicle (NGV) buses on five routes from Tuesday.

 

BMTA, which operates the city bus service, had late last year signed a contract to buy 489 NGV-powered buses from SCN-CHO, a consortium of Scan Inter Plc (SCN) and Cho Thavee Plc (CHO). The first batch of 100 buses was introduced by the BMTA on Monday. The rest of the fleet will be delivered by June.

 

The five routes on which the first 100 buses will run from Tuesday are: No 20 from Pom Phra Chulachomklao to Tha Din Daeng; No 21 from Wat Khu Srang-Chulalongkorn University; No 105 from Mahachai Muang Mai- Khlong San; No 138 from Phra Pha Daeng-Mo Chit 2; and No 140 from Samae Dam-Victory Monument.

 

 

The new NGV buses are low-decked types, 12 metres in length, with the capacity to seat 35 passengers.

 

The buses have been designed under universal design themes, which includes offering easier and safer travel for handicapped and elderly people. Among facilities provided are a big digital board showing the route, five CCTVs, and a folding car ramp for wheelchair users.

 

In the future, Wi-Fi, e-ticket readers that will support state welfare card holders, and a common ticket system or Mangmoom card that will allow commuters to travel with a single ticket, will be provided, BMTA deputy director Prayoon Chuaykaew, who is also acting director of BMTA, said.

 

The full NGV fleet comes at a cost Bt4.26 billion – Bt1.89 billion for the buses and Bt2.37 billion for 10 years of maintenance service. SCN-CHO was the sole bidder for the BMTA contract.

 

Bangkokians have waited for more than 10 years for the project to come to fruition.

 

After all the 489 NGV buses are delivered by June, the BMTA plans to buy 3,000 hybrid buses next year, Prayoon said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341829

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-27

[quandow]

Are the brakes pre-failed?

[mok199]

like ...

[cornishcarlos]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Bt2.37 billion for 10 years of maintenance service.

 

Someones getting themselves a new watch :)

[MaxLee]

 

How many brown envelops and cheating and avoidance of Maintenance taxes did it take????  

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

with the capacity to seat 35 passengers.

 

And how many standing?

[kotsak]

Finally they are catching up to the previous century.. 

[Thian]

1 hour ago, quandow said:

Are the brakes pre-failed?

They also bought a 10 years maintenance contract so if there's anything wrong with the brakes the contractor will have to fix it for free.

[brucegoniners]

Well it's about time!!!!!

[Langsuan Man]

15 minutes ago, brucegoniners said:

Well it's about time!!!!!

The buses are probably out of warranty by now, so money for a new maintenance contract is probably in the works 

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, quandow said:

Are the brakes pre-failed?

Coming soon! So far they are too busy conducting the drug tests for the drivers.

[VocalNeal]

NGV. Will soon be seen stranded with no gas!

[Narratio]

So with the Chinese connection forgotten about, I assume the problems with Customs charges and tax credits are all sorted out?

Bravo. Brown envelopes all round!

[rossd]

It really is amazing how cynical some people can be!

[hansnl]

What about the buses from China/Malaysia/wherever.

Still on the quai?

 

[MaxLee]

2 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

The buses are probably out of warranty by now, so money for a new maintenance contract is probably in the works 

or skipped at all costs........ 

[Anythingleft?]

To clarify then, are these different buses or the original ones that were stuck in customs?

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, hansnl said:

What about the buses from China/Malaysia/wherever.

Still on the quai?

 

No. Importer finally paid customs (under protest) for 389 buses in April 2017 but still refused to pay for the first lot of 100 buses. Most of the 489 buses had already been registered to BMTA on Jan. 26, 2017.

[janclaes47]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

and Bt2.37 billion for 10 years of maintenance service. SCN-CHO was the sole bidder for the BMTA contract.

 That is 484.662 per year per bus.

 

If ever there was a lucrative business.

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, Anythingleft? said:

To clarify then, are these different buses or the original ones that were stuck in customs?

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
 

These are a different lot, albeit the same number of buses - so the confusion.

In the bid for the first 489 buses Cho Thavee Dollasien Plc won the bid in June 13, 2015 for Bt1.78 billion. Then it gets complicated - in two parts:

Part 1:

• The other bidder Bestlin Group Co. LTD. petitioned PM Prayut on June 17, 2015 to protest the award because it claimed "unusual conditions in the bus procurement agreement."  On August 14, 2015 Bestlin filed a lawsuit against Cho and BMTA alleging collusion with the bid award.
• On April 19, 2016 BMTA rebids the procurement of 489 buses, adding maintenance services of Bt2.3 billion. On September 30, 2016 Minister of Transport signs the contract to buy the 489 buses worth Bt3.389 billion from the Bestlin Group.
• By January 25, 2017 all the buses were delivered and registered to BMTA by January 26, 2017.
• On February 9, 2017 BMTA terminates the 489 bus contract with Bestlin because of nonpayment of Customs tax. On February 11, 2017 the importer sues Customs officials for abuse of power.
• On March 27, 2017  PM Prayut sacks director of city bus agency because of the procurement controversies and on April 10, 2017 the importer pays (I assume under protest) customs tax on 389 buses that arrived from China but not on the 100 buses that originally arrived from Malaysia.

Part 2:

• Interested bidders for the next 489 bus lot were Bestlin Group, Thai Technology and Development Company and JVCC Chor Thavee joint venture announced August 24, 2017. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tainted-bestlin-allowed-bid-bus-deal-bmta/
• On December 27, 2017 BMTA signed a contract to buy 489 NGV buses from CHO-SCN at Bt4.261 million, about 5% higher than  the median price. Only CHO-SCN submitted a bid.All buses to be delivered by May 2018. The buses will be imported from China.

  http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bmta-buys-489-ngv-buses-cho-scn/

 

 

 

 

[Golden Triangle]

At long last someone has seen sense, didn't take too long did it fellow TV,ers 

[lamyai3]

12 hours ago, Anythingleft? said:

To clarify then, are these different buses or the original ones that were stuck in customs?

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
 

Just to add to the replies above, the original buses were made by Sunlong. The new ones are made by a different Chinese outfit, Bonluck. 

[tomacht8]

I've never heard anything like that before. Price for a new car and then plus more than 100% for maintenance? That can not be.

My Toyota pickup was original price 1 million. I then pay more then another million on top for 10 years maintenance?
No way.
Obviously a case for the anti-corruption commission.

Edited March 28, 2018 by tomacht8

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Just to add to the replies above, the original buses were made by Sunlong. The new ones are made by a different Chinese outfit, Bonluck. 

Both are made in China.

If imported directly from China to Thailand there will be a 40% customs tax.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/customs-say-bestlin-group-admits-first-100-ngv-buses-originated-china/

So it remains to be seen whether CHO has to pay the 40% tax.

Comparing the Bestlin award and the CHO award on a per bus basis, I see only about a 14% price increase. That wouldn't be enough to cover a 40% customs tax.

 

 

[Srikcir]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

SCN-CHO was the sole bidder for the BMTA contract.

This statement is so misleading to be essentially false.

There were actually six rounds of bids:

• 1st - no qualified bidders
• 2nd - CHO won the bid but BMTA cancelled the bid because "some legal problems."
• 3rd - Bestlin Group wins bid but BMTA cancelled contract as "the firm was too late to hand over the buses."
• 4th - bidding cancelled because of a "legal problem."
• 5th & 6th - no bidders

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bmta-buy-ngv-buses-special-method/

So how was CHO awarded the contract? I find no mention of a 7th bid so how can CHO be the sole bidder?