PUBLISHED: 26 Jan 2025 at 19: 10
Critics have criticized the government’s budget planning of 140 million bass to pay compensation to users for providing free public transportation as part of measures to combat Bangkok’s worsening cloud pollution.
As sand rates have soared across all of the capital’s towns, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra ordered completely public transportation in Bangkok for a month starting the following morning.
The premier requested the ministry and the relevant agencies to deal with Bangkok’s high levels of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller ( PM2.5 ), according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, on Friday.
From Jan 25 to 31, individuals may be given free service on trucks and electric carriages, said Mr Suriya.
The chancellor has worked with Metro Public Company, Bangkok Expressway, and Bangkok Transit System Plc to coordinate free rides for people on electric trains. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority has also agreed to provide completely vehicle transportation throughout the week.
According to the state, the walk is intended to encourage individuals to use public transportation to reduce car emissions, one of the options of PM2.5.
A sum of 140 million baht from the northern budget, according to Mr. Suriya, will be used to make up for the companies that provided complimentary transportation during the time.
But, critics spoke out against the move, saying it is a waste of citizens ‘ income as it does not address the root cause of the PM2.5 issue.  ,
On Twitter, Korrawee Prissananantakul, a Bhumjaithai MP for Ang Thong, criticised the walk to give free public transport, saying it will not assist relieve the PM2.5 problem.
If automobile owners agree to leave their cars at home and use public transportation, this plan will be successful. But will this truly happen? It’s not easy]to turn long-time car owners into public transport users ]”, he wrote.
He continued, noting that the government has set aside 140 million baht for the users ‘ compensation for lost income rather than requesting them to offer free transportation.
The state is using citizens ‘ funds to fix the Bangkok issue. Who will actually benefit from it, according to Mr. Korrawee, between the people and secret providers? Don’t forget that Bangkok and various regions are just as plagued by the PM2.5 issue. Does the government assist them similarly to those in Bangkok?
‘ Waste of money’
Jessada Denduangboripant, an economic analyst with the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University, said on Facebook yesterday that the 140-million-baht budget planning is a waste of money.
He suggested that the money should be better used to purchase air filters for distribution to the damaged institutions.
Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine ecosystem expert, said on Facebook that the government can foresee the PM2.5 situation in advance using current technology, but it has also failed to quickly react to the problem.
” We have been severely impacted by the dust waste since the middle of next year. No specific plans were put into action until Saturday, when users were offered complimentary people transportation, he wrote.
Pichet Kunadhamraks, director-general of the Department of Rail Transport, said yesterday that a total of 1, 634, 446 people used complimentary electric train service on Saturday, a 45.29 % increase compared to the average statistics recorded on the past three Sundays of this month.
For example, 451, 251 passengers used the Blue electric rail line per trip ( a 38 % increase ) while the Airport Rail Link saw 68, 903 passengers using its free service per trip ( a 25.61 % increase ). A total of 857, 878 passengers also used the BTS Green Line per trip, or a 46.07 % increase, Mr Pichiet said.