Free Rides Or Special Fares As New Year Gift

[george]

Public to get 'free rides' or specially-discounted fares as New Year gift

BANGKOK: -- Members of the general public will get 'free rides' or reduced fares from local transport firms as their New Year gift, according to the Ministry of Transport.

In Bangkok, Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said on Tuesday he had instructed state enterprises under the Ministry of Transport, including the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), which supervises Bangkok's subway system, to offer 'free rides' or specially discounted services to the public during upcoming New Year celebrations.

"This will be a New Year present to the general public from the Ministry of Transport," the minister told TNA.

The Ministry of Transport would officially hold a press conference on details of the 'New Year gift' offered to the general public on December 21, he noted.

The SRT later announced that it would offer 'free rides' to its passengers during the New Year festival--from December 30, 2005-January 2, 2006--on short-distance routes between Bangkok and its surrounding provinces and vice versa.

Meanwhile, the cabinet resolved at its weekly meeting here on Tuesday to call for cooperation from government and private agencies, as well as the general public on economized New Year celebrations to follow the sufficiency economy principle advised by His Majesty the King, according to Deputy Government Spokeswoman Sansanee Nakpong.

Members of the general public are urged to use locally-made products, especially those under the government-supported One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) Programme, as their New Year presents, instead of luxurious goods.

Public and private firms are suggested to minimize their costs on New Year activities and celebrations, while government officials are urged to only send New Year cards to their supervisors, rather than travelling to give them more expensive presents.

--TNA 2005-12-14

[stumonster]

Members of the general public are urged to use locally-made products, especially those under the government-supported One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) Programme, as their New Year presents, instead of luxurious goods.

has the government opened an OTOP store in the new siam paragon - considering its targetted at the overseas shopper