Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday agreed to consider an increase in bus fares after about 200 private Bangkok bus operators rallied at the ministry to demand a “long-overdue” fare hike.
A group of city bus operators, who run their services due to the concession granted by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, had a meeting with the Ministry of Transport yesterday to petition for a raise in flat-rate fares due to increasing maintenance and operating costs.
The bus operators are making three demands, reported Nation TV.
First, to raise fares for non-air-conditioned buses from THB9 (about 27 cents) to THB12 (about 36 cents). Second, increasing the base fare for air-conditioned buses, currently THB13 (40 cents), to THB15 (46 cents).
And finally, establishing a fare of THB20 (60 cents) for a four-kilometer trip in a new air-conditioned bus and THB25 (76 cents) for distances greater than that.
Arkhom stated that the Department of Land Transport has been assigned to evaluate these requests and will issue a response by Dec. 15, reported Thai Post.
“The decision will be based on fuel and labor costs, quality of service as well as the impact it will have on citizens,” Arkhom explained.
Meanwhile, Pattarawadee Klomcharoon, president of the Concession Bus Association, claimed that the current fares are lower than operating costs, which has resulted in the layoff of about 4,000 bus operators and conductors over the years, reported The Bangkok Insight.
Thai bus operators desperately need support from the government to make a sufficient living, she said.
