The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) confirms its readiness to implement the E-Ticket system on buses starting October 1. The initial phase will feature two types of E-Ticket fare collection systems, with 800 buses set to be operational in October. Meanwhile, the Comptroller General's Department has announced an extension for the distribution of the Spider Card for eligible individuals in seven provinces to October 17, 2017, to ensure fairness.

     Mr. Prayoon Chuaikaew, Deputy Director of Operations at BMTA, confirmed the readiness of the E-Ticket system on 800 ordinary buses for the service launch on October 1. So far, E-Ticket readers have been installed on 200 buses, with plans to complete the installation on all 800 buses. During the installation period, a Mobile E-Ticket system will be used to scan tickets, accommodating users holding state welfare cards. BMTA will also have staff on board to assist passengers during the first two years. The buses will display green stickers indicating "This bus uses an automatic fare collection system," replacing the previous message "Free bus funded by taxpayers" on the front, side, and rear windows. BMTA assures the system and vehicles are ready, despite the delay in the distribution of state welfare cards for low-income individuals in Bangkok and surrounding areas to October 17.

     The installation of E-Ticket readers on the first 800 buses is expected to be completed by November 15, with an additional 1,500 buses to be equipped by December, and a total of 2,600 buses by June 2018. In the future, BMTA plans to produce approximately 500,000 electronic tickets (E-Tickets), which will require further feasibility studies.

     The Comptroller General's Department reported that approximately 1.3 million eligible individuals in seven provinces, including Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon, will receive the state welfare card (Hybrid 2 Chips/Spider Card) for purchasing goods and paying fares according to specified limits. However, fare payments for BMTA buses and the Skytrain must comply with the central standards of the joint ticketing system (Spider Card) set by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). This necessitates additional production steps and quality control to meet the required standards, including recording essential data on each card's chip before testing it with the E-Ticket readers installed on BMTA buses. Consequently, the production timeline is extended due to technical limitations, preventing the completion of all cards by the October 1 deadline. However, some cards have already been produced and are being gradually distributed to registration agencies.

     To ensure a smooth production, delivery, and distribution of state welfare cards in the seven provinces, it has been deemed appropriate for registration agencies to distribute the cards to eligible individuals simultaneously starting October 17, 2017. To mitigate the impact of the production delays that may result in eligible individuals receiving their cards after October 1, the Comptroller General's Department will carry over any remaining welfare budget from October 2017 to November 2017, allowing eligible individuals to utilize the remaining funds.

     The Comptroller General's Department reiterated that the state welfare card program aims to assist citizens in two areas: reducing household expenses and lowering transportation costs, ensuring that support reaches the target groups. Additionally, the program will allow for monitoring and evaluation of the various types of welfare provided, enabling adjustments to better meet the needs of each area. The government is committed to treating all eligible individuals equally.

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