Mr. Saksayam Chidchob, Minister of Transport, revealed after a meeting to follow up on the improvement plan for the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) that the rehabilitation plan has been finalized and approved by the BMTA's Board of Directors. It is now set to be presented to the State Enterprise Policy Committee (SEPC) for consideration on June 8. If approved by the SEPC, it will then be submitted to the Cabinet for further action.

The rehabilitation plan for BMTA involves a new model where private companies will be contracted to operate buses based on distance. These companies will be responsible for providing air-conditioned buses, hiring staff, securing fuel, and finding parking spaces. Meanwhile, BMTA will revise its bus routes, reducing the total from 269 to just 108 routes to avoid overlaps.

Regarding the fare structure, it will be set at 30 Baht for unlimited travel throughout the day. Studies indicate that this could attract around 2 million passengers daily, generating an average daily revenue of 60 million Baht for BMTA. The analysis suggests that this service model will be viable, and the plan outlines that within seven years after Cabinet approval, EBITDA will turn positive by the year 72. Currently, BMTA has debts exceeding 172 billion Baht, and without rehabilitation, it is projected that by the end of 2020, BMTA's debts could surpass 200 billion Baht.

“When considering state enterprises under the Ministry of Transport, we find that there are four siblings, all of whom are struggling. The most troubled among them is Thai Airways International Public Co., Ltd., for which the Ministry of Transport has been seeking solutions, but the Ministry of Finance has taken it upon itself to manage Thai Airways' recovery. The remaining three siblings include the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), the Transport Company Limited (BorKorSor), and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), all of which are in need of assistance,” Mr. Saksayam stated.

SOURCE : www.thaipost.net