BTS urged to explain rise
The Democrat Party yesterday called on Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) to explain its request to increase Skytrain fares on December 1, saying the hike would affect low-income commuters.
Former MP Yuttapong Charasathien said BTS had not provided information in its written request to Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin as to why it needed to raise the minimum fare from Bt10 to Bt15. The maximum fare of Bt40 will remain unchanged.Yuttapong said he believed Apirak would use his authority to avoid complying with the BTS request, especially given that BTS's only reason stated in its request was that the raise was needed because the Bt10 rate had not changed since BTS began the Skytrain service seven years ago. Yuttapong said he thought BTS would benefit handsomely from the recently approved extension of two service routes because the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would build the elevated railway structures with its own money. Construction of the routes - from Taksin station at Phra Nakhon to the Taksin Intersection in Thon Buri, and from Onnuj (Sukhumvit Soi 77) station to Sukhumvit Soi 107 - is underway. - The Nation
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