• 
• 

Published on October 25, 2007

They said the promises indicated a government subsidy that would be an added financial burden on the taxpayer.

Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen said yesterday on the sidelines of a transport seminar that political-party promises to improve mass transit through the development of more subway routes were favourable.

However, he said they needed to take into account operating costs before quoting low fares. If the government has to absorb costs it will damage the economy, he added.

Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Office director-general Maitree Srinarawat said a Bt15 fare was impossible because operating costs were Bt18.

"The British government once fixed a low fare regardless of distance and it ended up shouldering huge debt. And, it incurred safety problems because low fares drew large numbers of commuters and led to thefts and robbery," Maitree said.

All seven political parties which revealed economic policies to the National Economic and Social Advisory Council last week promised to proceed with electric-rail development to ease traffic problems. Most quoted a flat fare of Bt15.

The Bt15 fare was first proposed in 2006 when Suriya Jungrungreangkit was transport minister. He proposed single-price tickets for existing and new routes.

Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said yesterday the sustainability of transport development required a new mindset from all agencies.

While some legal obstacles must be cleared, agencies need to be innovative in introducing new projects quickly. He said a long-term plan was necessary and should not be amended by successive governments.

In addition, the Transport Ministry needs cooperation from parties like the Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau and National Economic and Social Development Board.

The Thai Rak Thai Party was the first to use mass-transit development as a key economic policy to win votes in the 2005 election.

Once is became the government, it made amendments to the plan by adding routes and changing others.

The Surayud government cut the number of routes from 10 to five with total spending of Bt165 billion.

It seems bidding for just the Purple and Red lines will go ahead during the term of this government.

The Nation