Thailand's Songkran revellers to enjoy no tolls

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - Concerned authorities have announced that Thai and foreign travellers will, alike, enjoy no tolls on major expressways and highways during the forthcoming traditional Thai New Year, known as Songkran Festival next month. Police General Wichean Potephosree, Chairman of the state-run Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (EXAT) Board, told journalists that the EXAT board agreed on the temporary toll waiver at its meeting on Wednesday for the use of the Bang Na-Chonburi Expressway, the Elevated Expressway south of Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the Bang Phli-Suksawat Expressway from 12:01am of April 12-midnight of April 16. Wanchai Phaklak, Director-General of the Thai Ministry of Transport's Highways Department, said that his department will also not collect tolls on Highway No. 7 between Bang Na area in Bangkok and the eastern Chonburi province and Highway No. 9 between Bang Phli Outer Ring Road in the outskirts of Bangkok and Bang Pa-in in the central Ayutthaya province from 4pm of April 10-midnight of April 16. Chartchai Thisunavi, Director-General of the Rural Roads Department, also under the Thai Ministry of Transport, acknowledged that the construction of roads will be suspended from April 11-17 to facilitate traffic flows during the upcoming Songkran Festival and officials will be deployed to provide the Songkran revellers with useful and updated information on land routes, tourist destinations, bypasses and even flood-damaged roads to be avoided. According to the senior official, motorists can also seek the available information by calling his department's hotline, 1146, around the clock. (TNA)