A consumer watchdog is urging Bangkok Council to adopt the proposal believed to be an ideal way of keeping solution fares on the Eco-friendly Line, the city’s main electric train system, low and resolving other issues surrounding the line’s concessions.
Ahead of today’s council meeting, Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) posted five main recommendations, said Saree Aungsomwang, its secretary-general.
She stated the council is certainly expected to weigh up 2 options in environment the new fares for the Green Line’s 2nd extension, comprising 2 sections — Bearing-Samut Prakan and Mo Chit-Saphan Mai-Khu Khot.
The options are whether to adopt a single fare associated with 15 baht per ride on these sections or to arranged the starting cost at 14 baht and then charge travellers two baht for each subsequent station, the girl said.
The TCC has encouraged Bangkok Authorities in the proposal already submitted to it via city governor Chadchart Sittipunt to choose the very first option and cover the maximum fare just for riding the entire line at 44 baht, said Ms Saree.
It also urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to negotiate with all the Ministry of Fund about transferring the 69. 1-billion-baht in debt incurred through creating these two extensions, as well as the right to operate all of them, to the ministry or the Mass Rapid Transportation Authority of Asia (MRTA), she said.
The particular TCC asked the BMA to adopt securitisation as a means of converting its assets into securities to raise capital to pay off all the other debts it has incurred within the Green Line project before the concession regarding operating the main section of the line expires in 2029, she said.
By doing this, the BMA will have full control of all 59 Green Range stations, she noted.
The TCC wants the particular BMA to request the cabinet in order to nullify an purchase allowing the concession to be extended to 2059.