The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will certainly revise the administration of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program, which has been underused and it has made an operating loss of over one billion baht considering that its launch in 2007.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered the overhaul of the 16km BRT program, which is a feeder assistance linking Rama III, Sathon and Ratchapreuk areas, said deputy Bangkok governor Wisanu Subsompon.
The governor had reviewed the structure and found it never reaches traveler target and carries a financial burden, he or she said.
Based on a study, the BRT was projected to have about 25, 000–30, 000 commuters per day on average. Nevertheless , the number of passengers before the Covid-19 pandemic has been only 17, 000–19, 000 per day normally and the number decreased to 6, 000 during the outbreak.
Currently this serves about 9, 000–10, 000 passengers who pay a flat-rate fare associated with 15 baht.
BRT buses also encounter road safety problems whenever other vehicles share the BRT lane, Mr Wisanu said. Two people were slain in a recent incident involving the BRT street when a pickup truck crashed into the curb.
Mr Chardchart has told any office of Traffic plus Transport and Krungthep Thanakom Co, the BMA’s business arm, to review the BRT project and see how to proceed after the contract runs out next year, Mr Wisanu said.
The Bangkok Mass Transit System runs the service within six-year-and-three-month contract which usually ends on Aug 31 next year.
Mr Wisanu said the BMA may hire Krungthep Thanakhom to run the service or provide a concession to a private firm, adding the review, which will include debt management plus revenue generation, is definitely expected to take four months.
The BRT, in a cost of 2 billion dollars baht, was section of former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin’s political election campaign for governor in 2005 plus was touted as a way to help relieve town traffic congestion.