Private bus operators given green light for new fare rise

The Ministry of Transport has given the green light for private operators of both city and inter-province passenger buses to raise their fares due to continuing rising fuel costs.

Deputy Transport Minister Gen.Chainant Charoensiri told journalists here on Monday that the ministry's approval on the new bus fare rise following the diesel price on the domestic market having surged to exceed 24.50 Baht per litre.

"The Ministry of Transport asked the private bus operators to remain their fares unchanged for the past six months and promised them that once the domestic diesel price surges to 24.50 Baht per litre, they will be allowed for a new fare rise and now the diesel price has risen to 24.69 Baht per litre; so, the ministry has to keep the promise," he explained.
"Forcing the private bus operators to keep their fares unchanged amid continuing fuel cost hikes may result in undesirable sub-standard services adversely affecting the passengers," he cautioned.

Given the approval, private city bus operators--both air conditionered and non air conditionered ones--are allowed to raise their fares by 1.0 Baht; while inter-province buses are allowed a fare rise of 0.03 Baht per kilometre.

The new fare rise is expected to be effective from February 6 following a meeting of the Central Land Transport Committee here on February 1, in which the approved new fare rise is believed to be endorsed, according to Director-General of the Department of Land Transport Piyapan Champasut.

"For state-run buses--those of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the Transport Company Limited--whether their fares will be raised depends on decisions of their top executives," he said.

Meanwhile, the inter-province private bus operators said they would consider whether the approved fare rise of 0.03 Baht per kilometre should be acceptable, from the earlier request of 0.09 Baht per kilometre, as their fuel costs now stand around 0.14-0.15 Baht per kilometre.