OTP targets 60 per cent use of public transportation system

BANGKOK, April 23 (TNA) -- The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and planning (OTP) has set a target of 60 per cent use of public transportation system upon completion of the 10 planned electric train routes. Chaiwat Tongkamkoon, OTP Director General, said that the demand for public transport, in particular for electric rail, by residents of Bangkok and its periphery continues to rise dramatically. The problem currently faced by existing electric rail systems is a conflict of demand and available routes. The 10 new lines currently under construction will remedy this. A poll carried out on Bangkok commuters indicate 70 per cent private cars usage while the remaining 30 per cent are for public transport. Of the latter 1.2 per cent are for electric trains, 20 per cent for buses, 2.7 per cent for passenger vans, 4.6 per cent for motorcycle taxis and taxis and the remainder are for school buses and staff transport. This indicates a strong potential for further electric rail expansion. As such the OTP has set a minimum target of 50 per cent for public transport utilisation within the metropolis and was confident that upon completion of the 10 new lines this can be achieved. The final goal however is to achieve 60 per cent use of public transport network and the rest is car usage. (TNA)