Not only will the announcement lower travel expenses, but it will also help address air pollution and traffic congestion in the capital. When people can use the electric train at accessible prices, public transportation will likely be preferred, reducing the number of cars on the roads, and resulting in lower air pollution.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport is preparing to propose to the Cabinet to consider the extension of the 20-baht electricity train fare throughout the line due on November 30, 2024, and is still in the process of drafting the Joint Ticket Management Act, which is expected to be submitted to the House of Representatives in December. When the law comes into effect, a joint ticket system promotion fund will be set up to support the policy.
The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance also plans to study how to set up a fund to buy back the electric train concessions from the private sector at 200,000 baht, aiming to allow the government to set cheaper and fairer fares for the public transportation system in Bangkok to be sustainable and efficient.
Apart from the fare cutting, the Ministry of Transport plans to collect traffic congestion fees for traffic jams along the electric train routes, which is a successful method abroad, expecting this levy can generate income for more than 12,000 annually. The proceeds will be used to support the repurchase of electric train concessions and the development of public transportation systems in Thailand.
The 20-baht fare electric train route is an important step forward in developing public transportation in Bangkok and its vicinity, which will help people travel more conveniently and save more money while effectively solving pollution and traffic congestion in the capital. This will benefit everyone’s health and the quality of life in Bangkok that everyone wants to see.
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