Starting today, low-income Thais will be able to swipe their welfare card and ride the MRT for free.
Following through on their announcement last month, Bangkok Expressway and Metro Public Company Limited (BEM) today offered up more specifics about who exactly is eligible for the free trips.
The new benefit is available to official residents of Bangkok and six other nearby provinces including Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samutprakarn, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, and Ayutthaya. Each user has a limit of THB500 (about US$15) in fares.
The deal is only applicable for those over 18 years of age who are unemployed or have an annual salary of less than THB100,000 (US$3,100), reported Khaosod.
To work on the MRT, welfare cards must be activated at a ticket booth of any MRT station. Registration, which started two weeks ago and will continue through Sept. 30, is required only once.
So far, about 10,000 people have registered — lower than Ministry of Transport predictions — which is why they will promote this new benefit more, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said at a press conference today.
Arkhom added that the MRT hopes to provide more transportation alternatives and improve the lives of low-income Thais, as well as prepare Thailand for the government’s vision of a cashless society.
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