BMA hopes electrical buses, expanded path will enhance ridership
This year, Bangkok’s Bus Rapid Transit ( BRT ) system will undergo a few upgrades, with planned route expansion and electric buses starting to replace its fleet in July.
According to Sitthiporn Somkitsan, deputy director-general of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ), the department has signed a five-year contract worth 465 million baht to provide 23 electric buses to the route.
“BTSC did purchase the trucks from China,” the statement read. Because bus stops along Rama IV Road are on the left and those along the unique BRT route are on the right, according to him, adding that the electric buses will have lower floors to make accessibility better.
The path, he said, will also be extended, with two more prevents planned for the 15.7- kilometre vehicle line which connects Sathon and Ratchapruek roads, at Chan- Narathiwat crossing and Narathiwat- Ratchada crossing.
From Sathon Road to Rama IV Road, the course will also be extended by 2 kilometers so that people can use Lumpini Station’s MRT Blue Line for exchange.
Service time, nevertheless, may be adjusted to reflect require, he said.
Cars will only run between 6am and 10pm everyday. More buses may be operated during rush hours, nevertheless, with services expected to flee every seven minutes, along from 15 minutes during down- peak periods.
The fare will be capped at 15 ringgit for the entire road, he added.
With a budget of about$ 2 billion, the BRT was born in 2004 as the brainchild of former governor Apirak Kosayodhin. The initiative was launched by his son, MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, on May 29, 2010. At the time, a journey value 10 baht.
Almost instantly after its launch, the Bat stirred up discussion. Many drivers claimed that the BRT’s focused bus lanes took up too much space on inner-city streets, with some claiming that the way basically created more congested traffic.
In 2017, former government Aswin Kwanmuang conducted a surveys to determine whether Bangkok people still wanted the BRT company. It found that despite its issues, the majority of people remained on the route. The company was therefore decided to be kept by City Hall.
The Covid- 19 pandemic, but, caused ridership to fall from 10, 000 people per day to about 5, 000, resulting in severe financial loss. In addition, Governor Pol Gen Aswin made the decision to provide the service for free in order to assist people of the world’s problems.
According to Mr Sitthiporn, government Chadchart Sittipunt wants the Bat to serve at least 13, 000 people per time.
He stated,” We want to stay BRT running so that riders can save money while traveling.
The BMA has chosen to use electronic trucks to ensure that these objectives can become met in a responsible manner.
” We estimate this will reduce BRT’s running costs by more than half, from 19 million baht a fortnight, to eight million baht. Besides, Batteries are even good for the environment”, he said.
Bunchai Chuachanwong, a regular user of the BRT, welcomed the BMA’s choice to improve service and increase the way.
But, he said, the BMA may make sure that the fresh buses are properly- maintained. People should n’t waste their time waiting for a bus on the route because it needs to be better managed as well.
” Some successful efforts to encourage people to move to public cars failed because they neglected to improve the quality of the service. I believe that if our country’s public transportation system is better managed, more people may ditch their trucks”, he said.
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