The particular Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will revise the management of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which has been underused and has made a good operating loss of more than 1 billion baht since its release in 2007.
Bangkok chief excutive Chadchart Sittipunt offers ordered the overhaul of the 16km BRT system, which is a feeder service linking Rama III, Sathon and Ratchapreuk areas, mentioned deputy Bangkok governor Wisanu Subsompon.
The chief excutive had reviewed the scheme and found that it never reaches passenger target plus carries a financial burden, he said.
Based on research, the BRT had been projected to have regarding 25, 000–30, 000 commuters per day on average. However , the number of travellers before the Covid-19 pandemic was only 17, 000–19, 000 daily on average and the quantity dropped to six, 000 during the break out.
Currently it serves regarding 9, 000–10, 000 passengers who pay out a flat-rate cost of 15 baht.
BRT buses also experience road safety complications when other vehicles share the BRT lane, Mr Wisanu said. Two people were killed in a latest accident involving the BRT lane when a pickup truck crashed into the curb.
Mister Chardchart has informed the Office of Visitors and Transport and Krungthep Thanakom Company, the BMA’s business arm, to review the BRT project and see how to proceed after the contract expires next year, Mister Wisanu said.
The Bangkok Mass Transit Program runs the service under a six-year-and-three-month contract which ends on Aug 31 next year.
Mister Wisanu said the BMA may employ Krungthep Thanakhom to operate the service or give a concession to a private firm, including the review, that will also include debt administration and revenue era, is expected to take four months.
The BRT, at a cost of two billion baht, has been part of former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin’s election campaign to get governor in 2005 and was touted as a way to help relieve city traffic congestion.