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Published on December 15, 2007

The Central Administrative Court yesterday ordered inter-provincial bus fare increases to be rolled back to 3 satang instead of 6 satang per kilometre.

Following a failed attempt in October, the consumers' network against hikes in public bus fares had tried again to suspend the implementation of the Transport Committee's approval on October 9 for increases.

This time they presented to the court a new claim that the revised fares that went into effect on October 15 did not conform to the committee's resolution.

The committee had agreed to raising fares by 3 satang per kilometre for inter-provincial buses under Transport Co concessions, by 50 satang for city non-air conditioned buses and mini-buses, and by Bt1 per sector for city air-conditioned buses.

In reality, inter-provincial fares went up by 6 satang per kilometre, while city buses with concessions from the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority charged passengers Bt7 but still handed them a Bt6.5 ticket, the opponents said.

The court saw that the ticket value not matching the money paid was not within the Transport Committee's authority but the part about the amount exceeding what was allowed was. The court ordered the fare hikes to be kept within 3 satang per kilometre.

The court also found that the Transport Committee's new fares for VIP-class 24-seat coaches at 180 per cent of the standard rate and for first-class 32-seat buses at 110 per cent were irrational and unnecessary.

The court ordered the surcharges to be returned to the level before the October 9 decision until the case ends or the court decides otherwise.

The Nation