A consumer watchdog is urging the Bangkok Council to adopt a proposal that would keep fares on the BTS Skytrain Green Line electric rail service low while resolving other issues surrounding the line’s concessions.
The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) had submitted the proposal, comprising five recommendations, ahead of the Bangkok Council meeting on Wednesday, TCC secretary-general Saree Aungsomwang said on Tuesday.
She said the Bangkok Council is expected to consider two options in setting the fare structures for electric train rides along the Green Line extension, including two sections – Bearing - Samut Prakan and Mo Chit - Saphan Mai - Khu Khot.
The first option is to adopt a single fare of 15 baht per ride on these sections, while the second is to set the starting price at 14 baht and the fares will increase by two baht for every station travelled, she said.
The TCC urged the Bangkok Council to charge passengers a flat fare of 15 baht per ride on the two sections and cap fares at a maximum 44 baht per ride throughout the Green Line, said Ms Saree.
The TCC also suggested that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) negotiate with the Ministry of Finance about the possibility of transferring the 69.1-billion-baht in debts incurred through building these two extensions as well as the right to operate them to either the ministry or the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), she said.
The TCC urged the BMA to adopt securitisation to convert its assets into securities in order to raise capital to pay off all other debts incurred in the Green Line project before the concession for operating the main section of the line expires in 2029, she said.
The BMA would then have full control of the operation of all 59 Green Line stations, she said.
The TCC also suggested that the BMA propose that the cabinet to nullify order No 3/2562 of the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that has allowed the concession to be extended from 2029 to 2059, she said.
The selection of new concessionaires to operate the electric train service and develop the train stations for commercial purposes will then be discussed, she said.
Ms Saree said the TCC would like the BMA to set up a working group to promote public participation in making all types of public transport services in the city more accessible to all.
