Deep cut in subsidies for transport service 

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

The Cabinet yesterday approved Bt5.01 billion in total subsidies for the public services of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) in fiscal year 2020.

 

 

 

Atisit Chainuwat, an assistant spokesman of the PM Office, said after the Cabinet meeting yesterday that the proposed total amount of  Bt4.98 billion for BMTA was slashed to Bt1.78 billion, mainly due to a cut in the proposed subsidy of Bt1.95 billion for air-conditioned buses, citing prices issue.  

 

Meanwhile, the Cabinet slashed the proposed amount of Bt7.08 billion in subsidy for SRT to Bt3.24 billion. 

 

Of the subsidy reductions for SRT, its proposed budget for infrastructure was decreased  from Bt913.42 million to Bt176.04 million while the amount of depreciation was lowered from Bt1.22 billion to Bt11.33 million.

 

Proposed interest expense was cut from Bt1.03 billion to Bt41.56 million as some investments were  shouldered by the public sector.

 

In regard to the proposed subsidy for  fuel cost, it was decreased from Bt570.29 million to Bt531.72 million due to an adjustment in calculation, while the proposed pension payout of Bt746.84 million for retired officials during the year has also been lowered . 

 

The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has also agreed with the Ministry of Transport's policy for the two state enterprises, following their rehabilitation, particularly in the areas of organisational restructuring and solutions to financial problems.

 

Source: http://www.nationthailand.com/business/30372172

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand  2019-07-03

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

after the Cabinet meeting yesterday that the proposed total amount of  Bt4.98 billion for BMTA was slashed to Bt1.78 billion

wants everyone to walk; o, wait , there arent any functioning sidewalks, oops

so prices  will be  going up now then, just  saw  tollway by me up from 40 to 55  baht in one day, thats a  massive increase

Why they need subsidy, they are already the most expensive in the Asian Region.

If they can't manage their own costs good, then the subsidy is a waste of money and goes to the wrong places.

30 minutes ago, RotMahKid said:

Why they need subsidy, they are already the most expensive in the Asian Region.

If they can't manage their own costs good, then the subsidy is a waste of money and goes to the wrong places.

Not wrong place but wrong pocket!

Efficiency could recoup some of this lost money but I am not holding my breath.

Can't afford too many subsidies now, need the money for a)  siphoning off to overseas and b)  Buying more weapons

51 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Efficiency could recoup some of this lost money but I am not holding my breath.

Same as Thai airlines. Look how many purple uniforms at the airport do nothing other than FB.

1 minute ago, legend49 said:

Same as Thai airlines. Look how many purple uniforms at the airport do nothing other than FB.

They are broadcasting on Bigo and making money if you look more closely at the phones.  

4 minutes ago, legend49 said:

Same as Thai airlines. Look how many purple uniforms at the airport do nothing other than FB.

All little "Cinderellas" ,  waiting for their very own "Prince Charming" to turn up and whisk them off ????

1 minute ago, geoffbezoz said:

All little "Cinderellas" ,  waiting for their very own "Prince Charming" to turn up and whisk them off ????

5555 ! yes - some Trolley dollies really do well for themselves!

3 minutes ago, Lenny Jones said:

5555 ! yes - some Trolley dollies really do well for themselves!

But by all accounts some like it very rough !!!

It's called "robbing Peter to pay Paul

 

The budget bucket is getting low - caused by the great desire to buy tanks and things.

 

The stuff that fills the bucket - exports - is dwindling. 

 

The strong baht - wanted so the generals can buy toys is the root cause of the impending implosion but don't worry.  Something or somebody else will cop the blame.  That's the Thai way.

2 minutes ago, Lenny Jones said:

It's called "robbing Peter to pay Paul

 

The budget bucket is getting low - caused by the great desire to buy tanks and things.

 

The stuff that fills the bucket - exports - is dwindling. 

 

The strong baht - wanted so the generals can buy toys is the root cause of the impending implosion but don't worry.  Something or somebody else will cop the blame.  That's the Thai way.

Too true , even when Ayutthya got overrun by the Burmese and the Thais ran away, thus setting the future trend for the Thai military, they blamed it on the Mahouts for not getting the elephants to charge !!  Apparently the Mahouts mistook the order of charging their Elephants, rather they asked the Burmese to pay double to enter the city being as they were foreigners !  All was then lost ????????????

Let us hope these budget cuts do not compromise safety issues that do currently exist. Could become even more dangerous to travel by public transport, especially by road.

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Let us hope these budget cuts do not compromise safety issues that do currently exist. Could become even more dangerous to travel by public transport, especially by road.

Safety issues hahaha, this is the bus I took this morning.... it must be older than me and done a few more laps around the block...

but hey-ho it still rolls along so why up-date with new stock, Thailand in the dark ages.

Submarine payments are probably due !