Govt Gives Greenlight To Bus Fare Rise

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Govt gives greenlight to bus fare rise

BANGKOK: -- The government has approved a new fare rise for public buses in Bangkok and those running across provinces, according to Deputy Transport Minister Adisorn Piengkes.

Mr. Adisorn told TNA today that the government, through the Ministry of Transport, had given the greenlight for local public bus operators under the jurisdiction of both the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the Transport Company Limited to raise their fares, taking effect as of 2 May.

Given the new move, the city's buses run by the BMTA itself or its concessionaires would be allowed to raised their fares by Bt1.0, from Bt3.50 to Bt4.50 for non-air conditionered buses; while inter-province buses under the Transport Company Limited would be allowed to increase their fares by Bt0.03 (three satang) per one kilometre, he disclosed.

"The new fare rise is based on a key condition that the local bus operators must improve their services", Mr. Adisorn said.

"The bus operators agreed to do so at a meeting with state transport authorities here yesterday", he noted.

The Ministry of Transport has allowed the new bus fare rise after taking relevant factors, particularly the steady oil price hike over the past months, into good account, according to the deputy transport minister.

--TNA 2005-04-22