After pricing became a key issue in the May 14 common election, mass transit system fares are often contested.
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the minister of transportation, recently suggested that the 20-baht smooth train fare was non-emergency and was not included in the government’s policy, which sparked a public outcry.
During a two-day discussion on state legislation, Mr. Suriya was compelled to clarify the situation. He stated that the 20-baht menu may be piloted on the MRT Purple Line and SRT Red Line within the next three weeks as” New Year’s product.”
According to Mr. Suriya, it will take the government two years to fully utilize the flat-rate coverage due to the need to resolve complicated legal issues involving private-sector investments in other electric rail roads and procedures.
However, in the eyes of users and travel researchers, Mr. Suriya’s clearing is” not good enough.” Here, they express their opinions on how the 20-baht fare can be implemented more quickly and urge the government to look into additional ways to lower consumer prices.
a protracted two-year waiting
The 20 baht flat train rate can be implemented on systems invested by the government without having to wait, according to Saree Aungsomwang, secretary-general of the Thailand Consumers Council ( TCC ).
She stated that the entrance fee or base suffer should also be waived when travellers switch between these devices, which are the MRT Blue Line, the LRT Purple Line and the SRT Red Line.
The TCC has been advocating for reasonable transportation costs for travellers in Bangkok and the provinces, arguing that they shouldn’t be higher than 10 % of the regular minimum income or that many low-income people would find them very expensive.
Bangkok’s existing daily minimum wage is 353 baht, but depending on the system and the amount of travel, charges can range from 17 to 47 baht.
Ms. Saree claims that while European travellers only pay about 330 ringgit per month, mass transit charges in other nations are less than 10 % of their minimum wage, with London’s metro fare being only 5 % and Tokyo at 9 %.
The average cost per person is between 10.10 and 16.30 baht, according to a TCC study analyzing costs per trip from 204 – 2019, which is close to the estimate of 11 – 13 billion that was disclosed by Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt and City Hall representatives during an interview.
Another electric train systems, like the Green Line, may take longer to implement the policy because negotiations will be more difficult because they have private sector investors.
The annual payment for the plan may be 5.44 billion baht. She claimed that more research is required to determine how much the financing problem would be.
Nevertheless, she claimed that the government will profit more from increased ridership and that it needs to find new ways to fund the payment in order to reduce the use of public funds, such as by levying a constructing tax on companies that use mass transit systems, like shopping malls.
She claimed that the express payment was worthwhile because it could ease traffic congestion, lessen air pollution, and improve people’s quality of life.
Local governments may be able to create their own mass transit systems that can be connected to another station systems with the aid of a transportation service development fund.
According to Ms. Saree, the main program should be used instead of the mass transportation system. ” People must be convinced to leave their cars at home and use common transportation.”
more practical choices
Samart Ratchapolsitte, a former deputy governor of Bangkok, stated that the 20-baht flat rate is not an issue if the government makes up for the difference in fare revenue earned by system operators, such as the Bangkok Mass Transit System ( BTSC ), Bangkok Expressway and Metro( BEM ), and SRT Electrified Train Co.
However, he added that it is” too much” if commuters are charged only a 20-baht fare and have unrestricted access to all systems, and that the estimated subsidy of 5 billion Baht calculated by the Department of Rail and the anticipated 10 % increase may not be realistic.
He claimed to have a more sensible suggestion: set the daily mass transit transportation cap at 50 baht, allowing passengers to travel between the systems indefinitely.
He stated that” the authorities must bargain with the system providers and compensate them.” ” I estimate that it will need an annual payment of 7.5 billion baht.”
He claimed that because it shortens commute occasions, lowers energy costs, and reduces air pollution, this option will increase economic benefit.
The 20-baht menu may be adopted for those who travel no more than 10 facilities, according to Agachai Sumalee, a teacher of transportation systems at Chulalongkorn University’s School of Integrated Innovation. Most riders travel six to eight channels per vacation.
According to Prof. Agachai, the choice really address concerns about the financial stress while taking small steps to improve train fares. Additionally, he advised the authorities to improve coach services rather than concentrating on building infrastructure.
He stated that” the whole system may be developed.” The first step in making suffer inexpensive is to reduce entry fees, and we should have a common ticketing system.
The 20-baht flat rate may be implemented first in state systems, according to Assoc Prof. Chalie Charoenlarpnopparut, evil rector for scientific affairs at Thammasat University.
He suggested that the government develop new revenue streams to support the plan, such as through the commercialization of train stations and public areas.
In order to encourage the private business to lower charges, particularly those who hold the Green Line agreement, which is set to expire in 2029, the government must make the right offer, he said.
According to him, lowering the entrance cost for system transfers can also help lower travel expenses.
The legislation presents a problem, but it can be overcome by combining these two strategies, he said. The price range is between 16 and 17 ringgit, so the amount is fair.
I urge the government to put it into practice because it will increase trust and open aid, he said.