On Nut to Bearing and Wong Wian Yai to Bang Wa stations’ promotional discount will no longer be in effect as these sections will be getting a fare hike of 15 baht starting April 1.
The disappointing news was signed by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor Assawin Kwanmuang last March 31st, Friday, according to Suthon Anakul of the BMA Traffic and Transport Office. This fare hike will increase revenue of the City Hall to 30%, from the annual 600 million THB annual cost. It will drop to 400 million THB a year to hire the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Limited Company (BTS) to operate the stations.
This fare increase of 15 THB was supposedly the fixed starting fare of these stations but due to the past election promise by then BMA governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra in May 2013, the price dropped to 10 THB.
There are 5 affected stations of the On Nut-Bearing that are on the Sukhumvit line: On Nut, Bang Chak, Punnawithi, Udom Suk, Bang Na and Bearing.
There are also 5 affected stations of Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa that are on the Silom side; Wong Wian Yai, Pho Nimit, Talad Phlu, Wutthakat and Bang Wa.
A new station along the Sukhumvit line, BTS Samrong Station – the first in Samut Prakan province, is set to open in April 2017.
Sources: Bangkok Post, Coconuts Bangkok Photo: Wikimedia
