Calls for government subsidy on all Bangkok public transport

[webfact]

A call for government subsidisation of all public transportation in Bangkok was made at a forum aiming to alleviate the city’s commuting issues. The event, attended by approximately 100 individuals including locals, was a collaboration between the House committee on consumer protection, the Thailand Consumers Council and the Foundation for Consumers. The agenda was to gather consumer perspectives on the capital city’s public transport and potential improvements.

 

According to the attendees, primarily consisting of Bangkok residents and those from its adjacent suburbs, commuting via public transport in the metropolis often proves to be a hassle, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Bhuntin Noumjerm, a Bangkok representative of the Move Forward Party and the committee’s spokesperson, pointed out the substandard quality of transportation services in the city. He noted the high fares as a significant concern. Bhuntin suggested that the government should contemplate subsidising all modes of transport in the capital, not just the electric rail systems, which currently dominate the transport scene.

 

Bhuntin highlighted the lack of accessible, cost-effective transport services connecting residential back roads and alleyways to electric train stations. He assured that these shared viewpoints would be compiled and presented to the House of Representatives during the forthcoming deliberation of public transport bills.

Aphisit Mantri, who manages the Rotmaethai (Thai public buses) Facebook page, noted the scarcity of operational vehicles, especially during the night, as a common hurdle for commuters. Extended waiting times are a frequent outcome of this issue, Aphisit explained.

 

He also mentioned passenger complaints regarding seemingly arbitrary alterations to the numbering of certain bus routes. Most commuters are perplexed by these changes, as they disrupt a numbering system that was previously familiar to all, Aphisit added.

Assistant Secretary to the TCC’s sub-committee on transport, Khongsak Chuenkrailat, emphasized the necessity of maintaining affordable fares for the entirety of the population. He underlined this as a key step towards ensuring a convenient and beneficial public transport system in Bangkok.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of iStock

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-02-23

 

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[ikke1959]

I personally think that the Thai Government can't subsidy everything. They should invest in modern transportation and if things are too costly replace them. It seems that the Thai Government is responsible for all extra costs.. subsidy for farmers, petrol, hospitals, transportation etc etc .. but the most Thai people are not paying taxes so how on earth can everything being paid than?

[tomazbodner]

Keep on going and you'll end up like Greece and Argentina.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I personally think that the Thai Government can't subsidy everything. They should invest in modern transportation and if things are too costly replace them. It seems that the Thai Government is responsible for all extra costs.. subsidy for farmers, petrol, hospitals, transportation etc etc .. but the most Thai people are not paying taxes so how on earth can everything being paid than?

It's not so much the cost of transportation, it's more of an issue of the wages that the people receive that is out of sync with reality. People who need daily services to get to and from work and are on the lower salary scale are losing a high percentage of their income just to stay employed.

[rovinman]

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I personally think that the Thai Government can't subsidy everything. They should invest in modern transportation and if things are too costly replace them. It seems that the Thai Government is responsible for all extra costs.. subsidy for farmers, petrol, hospitals, transportation etc etc .. but the most Thai people are not paying taxes so how on earth can everything being paid than?

 

They should follow the Hong Kong method  !  The ONLY MTR system that ever Broke even,  {before the 1997 Chinese takeover that is  !}
Allow the concessionaires to build Retail areas to subsidise their Rail travel

Similarly,  Singapore's CBD  {Marina Bay}, has vast retail areas underground   !

[kingstonkid]

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It's not so much the cost of transportation, it's more of an issue of the wages that the people receive that is out of sync with reality. People who need daily services to get to and from work and are on the lower salary scale are losing a high percentage of their income to stay employed.

You could give them a raise of 600 baht, and they would still say prices are too high.

 

The challenge is that the government has and needs to be more quick to subsidize or to limit the cost of items.  

 

Thai people are spoiled in that sense.

 

If they want to make it better, then put newer and cheaper run buses on the road.

 

It will be interesting in 10 years when they have to upgrade and maintain the new lines what they do for money, or do they just let them become death traps