Discussed: 20 Oct 2024 at 07: 07
Chadchart Sittipunt, the governor of Bangkok, supports the Transport Ministry’s plan to charge a congestion fee on all electronic train lines entering main Bangkok to pay for a flat 20-baht fare policy.
Congestion costs, according to Mr. Chadchart, are certainly a new idea; they have already been implemented in cities like Singapore and London. The goal is to promote more frequent use of public transportation and to discourage driving in high-traffic places.
He did point out that Bangkok must first ensure it has a trustworthy and available public transportation system in order for such a system to function properly. This includes more than just improving electrical trains; it also includes expanding bus services and enhancing walking access to get around more easily and comfortably.
Mr Chadchart said the proposed congestion charge system, aimed at offsetting the government’s investment in the 20-baht flat fare policy, would target vehicles entering Bangkok’s central business district ( CBD ). If implemented, it would probably cover an expanded zone more than particular streets to stop drivers from veering off to safer neighborhoods, he said.
” There must be adequate public transportation options available before charging drivers, then, this plan had struck low-income residents to hard”, said the governor.
He added cautious planning may be necessary to prevent families, especially those driving children to school constantly, from being excessively affected. While the proposal’s underlying principle is good, according to Mr. Chadchart, suitable execution will be important. This includes integrating customers systems to control the gridlock fees.
Samart Ratchapolsitte, past assistant Bangkok government, on Saturday posted on Instagram, saying the plan has been discussed for years but was never implemented due to its projected negative impact on travellers. Implementation successfully would require complete planning that considers issues like parking availability and fee exemptions. Without proper planning, the congestion payment plan does fail, he said.
Suriya Jungrangreangkit, the minister of transportation, stated that the program will be based on the success of similar techniques in different nations.
He even suggested that the government refinance the subsidies given to businesses that run the electric train traces in Bangkok. In this way, the government may keep the costs low while keeping electronic coach commuting cheap.