Bus operators seek fare increase

BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) – Bus operators asked for permission to increase fares to cover their operation costs. The Association of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) Bus Concessionaires met Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith at the ministry, asking for permission to increase fares by four baht to cover the rising NGV price. The association said the capital cost has increased by 100-200 baht per bus per day and the fares have been fixed for the past four years. Suchinda Cherdchai, inter-provincial bus operator and president of Thai Bus Operators Association also led 20 members to meet the Transport Minister, seeking the fare increase by 0.10 baht per kilometer by June as they cannot shoulder the rising cost. They said if they are not allowed to increase fares, they need to cut bus trips. Mr Arkhom said the ministry asks for cooperation from bus operators to keep the fares unchanged as the oil prices have dropped. The association agreed to wait until the study on the structure of the bus operation cost by the Department of Land Transport will finish in the next two months. (TNA)