Cabinet Approves Motorway Fare Exemption for Songkran Holidays

The Cabinet has approved a fare exemption on motorways during the Thai New Year's holidays, a move that aims to ease traffic congestion during this year's Songkran Festival.

The government has also approved funding for the Board of Investment Fair.

The Cabinet has approved a fare exemption on Route 7 and 9 motorways, from 4 P.M. on April 8 to noon on April 18.

The fare exemption will also be applied to the Bangna-Chonburi Expressway from April 9 to 17.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Supachai Jaisamut says the move is aimed to ease traffic congestion during this year's Songkran holidays.

Meanwhile, Deputy Government Spokesperson Watchara Kannika reported that the government has allocated 175 million baht for the organization of the 2011 Board of Investment Fair, as requested by the Industry Ministry.

The event will be organized by the Board of Investment, which will compose of a detailed plan and a cost assessment.

The prime minister has also appointed an organizing committee of which he will chair himself.

The Cabinet expressed confidence that the event will boost investments and the economy.

The fair will be held from November 10 to 25 at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-23

Wow what a good Idea. A step in the right direction.

jb1

Oh just a thought, does that mean the BIB can take over the booths, to collect tea money?

Edited March 23, 201115 yr by jimbeam1

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Oh just a thought, does that mean the BIB can take over the booths, to collect tea money?

They do that already.

So a traffic laden motorway full of traffic thumping along at say 100 kph can not be safely contained by conscientious drivers slowing their speed to a halt, paying their fare and accelerating away after that.

Instead the preferred and speculated safer option is to allow the 100 kph approach into a schicane by a traffic laden, nose to tail, convoy of traffic?

Personally speaking, once and cold stone sober, on an empty tollway with open charhing booths, I sailed through at 100 kph. It was hair raising. there was an empty road and all I had to do was miss the stanchions and find the gap. Terrifying. Too fast. Madness. Mistake and never to be done again.

And in their wisdom they advocate a tail gate approach most likely at wll over 100 kph simplky because the stupidly drunken Thais can not be policed by a less than useless Police Force.

That is the truth of the matter.

No assertion of responsibility by the state over a people devoid of personal responsibilty.

More carnage followed by more manipulation of the figures to show us that things are getting better.

Well that's not alright then.

I find it remarkable that such a decision needs cabinet approval.

I find it remarkable that such a decision needs cabinet approval.

I find it remarkable that such a decision needs cabinet approval.

Someone has to pay for it.

I bet that the traffic jams will be worse. Japan did something of the same with discount days and traffic jumped.

TheWalkingMan

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Oh just a thought, does that mean the BIB can take over the booths, to collect tea money?

They do that already.

Very true I have had it happen to me.

jb1

I find it remarkable that such a decision needs cabinet approval.

Someone has to pay for it.

So Thailand is incapable of devolving the authority and, if necessary, the budget to a Highways Authority ?

I find it remarkable that such a decision needs cabinet approval.

Someone has to pay for it.

So Thailand is incapable of devolving the authority and, if necessary, the budget to a Highways Authority ?

Correct. Would you trust them?

I find it remarkable that such a decision needs cabinet approval.

Someone has to pay for it.

So Thailand is incapable of devolving the authority and, if necessary, the budget to a Highways Authority ?

Most of those toll highways are privately owned, so someone will have to pay the owners.

How does making the highway free reduce traffic?

Also, someone raised a good point; having the drunks trying to steer through those narrow booth lanes at full throttle will be more hazardous than bringing them to a stop.