The affordability, usability and efficiency of Bangkok's mass-transit system leaves much to be desired.
As to affordability, the system -- comprising BTS elevated and MRT underground trains, is not necessarily for the masses. It's primarily a transport mode for middle-class earners who can afford the hefty ticket prices. Indeed, a commuter can easily spend at least 100 baht on a round trip, almost a third of the daily wage for labourers, shop workers and so forth.
When it comes to usability and efficiency, other cities' transport systems have tapped into digital innovations such as mobile-app ticketing for a more convenient experience. Yet in Bangkok commuters still must carry prepaid cards for both BTS and MRT as each has its own ticket system. Plans for an integrated system, known as Mangmoom which means spider in Thai, has sat spinning in place and going nowhere for several years.
It's unfair and dispiriting for commuters to endure such inefficient public service. And it's just as dispiriting for them to know of a similar inefficiency and lack of integration among politicians considering renewal of the Green Line railway concession.
Last week, seven ministers under the Bhumjaithai Party -- among them Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and party leader Anutin Charnvirakul -- employed what they described as a "civil disobedience" tactic by "excusing" themselves from Tuesday's cabinet meeting so as to avoid giving an opinion on the concession renewal. Their justification for not attending was that a renewal will benefit the private sector, and that ticket prices proposed by the concessionaire are too high. Mr Saksayam, who has at least three times rejected the renewal in other cabinet meetings, accused the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) of not responding to questions about technical issues, an accusation the BMA has always denied.
The debate has now lingered for three years. During the period, the BMA has complained it cannot renew the concession given to Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) as previously pledged. BTSC had asked for a 30-year concession in exchange for capping fares on the whole of the Green Line at 65 baht, in exchange for a 40-billion-baht debt clearance. These are only a few among several other financial sticking points greatly affecting the project over the years.
Nonetheless, to if not solve but at least get around some of the thornier financial issues for the time being, Bangkok's former governor pledged to extend the concession with BTSC.
While the row is perceived as a contractual problem made worse by political games, the government, especially Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, must remain firm that the decision-making process will serve the public and commuters. The big questions are: Will the outcome of contract negotiations benefit commuters? And, will the concession mean affordable ticket prices?
There have been discussions on integrating all city trains into one system for easier and more affordable use by commuters. If this is in fact a goal, the government should study, in addition to debt clearance, the matter of bringing any extension of the Green Line under the umbrella of a single, unified system. What's more, the government must study developing a common ticketing system for all mass transport lines in the city as soon as possible.
To that end, the government must require that relevant parties negotiate openly and let consumer groups take part in the study and decision-making process, rather than allowing only state agencies and politicians to know where this train is headed.
