In an unlikely reversal, the City Hall has decided to continue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services amidst losses with a new fare of 15 THB.
Governor Aswin Kwanmuang defended that if the termination of its contract would push through, 25,000 daily passengers would be affected. It would also be impractical to simply rely on BMTA buses as public buses cannot accommodate the high passenger volume.
There was an earlier report that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) decided to cut loose of its services after it gained constant losses amounting to 1.2 billion baht over the last 6 years, but the decision generated negative reactions from many commuters saying that the service benefits thousands of daily passengers. They cite private vehicles entering BRT lanes and the lack of enforced regulations as issues that hinder the effectivity of the service.
Police General Aswin says that BRT will continue until a replacement transport service, such as a monorail or light rail transit system, will be created in the area. The BRT was built to link the Sathon and Ratchaphruek area for BTS passengers.
The BRT’s 7-year management contract will end next month as a new operator is set to take over.
Source: bangkokpost.com