Bt5 Hike In Toll Likely Next Year: Bangkok Expressway System

[webfact]

EXPRESSWAY

Bt5 hike in toll likely next year

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Drivers are likely to have to pay an additional Bt5 per trip to use the expressway system next year, as Bangkok Expressway (BECL) is considering seeking Cabinet approval for such an increase.

Increases are permissible under the operator's concession with the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EAT), which allows the company periodically to adjust the toll fee in line with inflation.

BECL managing director Payao Marittanaporn yesterday said that under the concession, which expires in 2020, the company would be allowed to adjust the toll fee on two further occasions, in 2013 and 2018, in line with rising inflation.

The planned price adjustment for 2013 has been calculated based on inflation over the past five years.

"According to the inflation figures, the toll fee should be increased by Bt5 to Bt50 in September next year," Payao said.

At present, an average of 1.06 million vehicles use the expressway per day. If the proposed price adjustment is approved, it will generate additional daily income of more than Bt5 million for BECL.

The company has reported a revenue drop from Bt8 billion in 2010 to Bt7.65 billion last year, which is attributed to lower revenue-sharing under the concession with the EAT. The ratio fell from 50:50 to 60:40 in the EAT's favour last year.

BECL's revenue-sharing ratio will be further reduced, to 30 per cent, this year. However, the increased toll fee would compensate for the lost income.

In addition, the devastating flooding late last year led to the company shutting down six of its nine gates for two months.

The company is negotiating with its insurers over the possible payment of compensation of Bt94 million for its flood-related revenue loss, Payao said.

Meanwhile, BECL is planning to issue a short-term Bt4-billion debenture with a three-year maturity. The first lot worth Bt1 billion to Bt2 billion will be launched next month, he said.

A Bt20-billion budget has been earmarked for construction of a junction system linking the Sri Racha gate and the Outer Ring Road. Work will commence next year, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-02-29

[laurentbkk]

ridiculous , the price for express way or toll way is already too expensive , even more than Europe ... I never understood this system here , you drive 1km or 20km you pay the same price . Some logic I still dont get and traffic jam is getting worse and worse.

[whybother]

ridiculous , the price for express way or toll way is already too expensive , even more than Europe ... I never understood this system here , you drive 1km or 20km you pay the same price . Some logic I still dont get and traffic jam is getting worse and worse.

The fact that the traffic is getting worse proves that it's too cheap.

To have tolls relative to how far you drive will need more toll gates ... ie more expense, higher tolls. It's cheaper to average the tolls out and have fewer toll gates. People can decide whether they want to use it for a short distance and still pay the full toll. They can sit in traffic under the expressways if they think it's too expensive up on top.

[Unkomoncents]

And life in the 'kok just gets better and better...

[happyinthailand]

Provided the rise is not to finance wifi which is dangerous for drivers and does not help the traffic flow, I do not mind the increase . The recent wifi statements stink of some backhanded deal and should be thoroughly investigated.

[noitom]

What's amazing is how much traffic and driving a Thai is willing to do to beat the toll and go through the streets. As if their time is worth nothing.

[sparebox2]

Isn't Thai people too poor already?

Is the 5Baht needed to provide FREE wifi for the rich underage kids to skype (to Dubai) while on the move?

[alexakap]

allows the company periodically to adjust the toll fee in line with inflation.

Will they adjust the salaries at the same day\same order?

Don't even crossing my fingers.

Just another rip-off of the locals. Get the same, but pay +5baht more.

[BookMan]

Don't forget they have thrown in free WiFi for your driving pleasure. Only costs them 5 baht a driver.

[alexakap]

Don't forget they have thrown in free WiFi for your driving pleasure. Only costs them 5 baht a driver.

Who need WiFi while driving? We need it when stuck in jam....read between the lines.

[gay4who]

of course BTS, MRT , Expressway tolls are all excessive, In other asian countries off road public transport is for the poorer folks, In Thailand and Bangkok most low income people can't afford to use the city's mass transport system, thus clogging up the road network.

[sparebox2]

Don't forget they have thrown in free WiFi for your driving pleasure. Only costs them 5 baht a driver.

Who need WiFi while driving? We need it when stuck in jam....read between the lines.

There are usualy more than 1 in a car/van.

That will keep my children and driver happy.

Facebook, upload, simsimi, skype, even download movie on the move etc

[jonclark]

Isn't Thai people too poor already?

Is the 5Baht needed to provide FREE wifi for the rich underage kids to skype (to Dubai) while on the move?

"there are usualy more than 1 in a car/van.

That will keep my children and driver happy.

Facebook, upload, simsimi, skype, even download movie on the move etc"

So sparebox2 - Does that me your children are rich and underage and skype (to dubai)??? Clearly you ain't one of the poor you lucky man (or woman)

[kblaze]

First of all its EXAT, lol not EAT. Secondly, I don't know where they get their information that the revenue sharing will drop to 30/70 this year, as their contract is for 40/60 for the last 9 years of their concession (up in 2020).

finally, BECL is entitled to raise the tolls every 5 years as long as the government signs off on it.

cmon guys, 5 years for 5 baht isn't "ridiculous",this is a publicly traded company that has to make money for shareholders, so they raise the rates in accordance with their agreement with EXAT and if it doesn't align with the rise in inflation then the gov't can squash the rise.

[belg]

any of you daily stuck on the tollways? for about 3 hours per day... and now have to pay even more ? why ? will they increase the salaries of their employees ? i did not know that the concrete was a comodity

[anterian]

If you don't like the journey then move.

[marquess]

I hope that they are not going to allow an increase in the price of the Don Muang Tollway, which has already gone up from 20 Baht to 60 Baht in the last five years; and is perhaps the least valuable in terms of route-- as it runs directly with Viphawadi Road. On the other hand the tollway that runs from Din Dang to Therapak Road, is only 45 Baht is pretty good value, as the route saves alot of time, i.e. cuts out driving down Sukhumvit road for a start.

[georgey]

surely, if anyone had even half a brain, they'd increase tolls by 10 Baht, but ONLY for those who pay in cash. The toll for those who use E-Z Pass should remain unchanged. That way nearly everyone would get an E-Z Pass, & queues at the toll-gates would become a thing of the past....

[Unkomoncents]

If you don't like the journey then move.

Or, like, make the journey better.

[OZEMADE]

I drive from Pattaya to Lop Buri on the Tollway, it takes 3 hours and you see nothing but have to have your wits about you.

I do the same trip in the car or bike inland avoiding the Tollways, it takes 4 to 41/2 hrs and I have a pleasant trip see the sights and visit good food and fruit stalls.The kilometeres are about the same.

[GentlemanJim]

Is 5 baht really a lot? Is 5 Bht really a 'hike'? With some of the comments here you would think it was a 100 Bht.

Edited February 29, 2012 by GentlemanJim

[TAWP]

I have 3G (and GPRS if outside BKK), I don't need Wifi for the tollway...

So ok, this will not hit me badly, I can afford it. But it will perhaps annoy some cab-drivers when more customers will say 'mai aow' to taking tollway, as it means the drive will take longer time...

[FOODLOVER]

Every time i go through they try to steal 5-10- baht so <deleted> the difference? Every freaking time!

[khaowong1]

Of course, they have that new wi-fi system to pay for.