BMTA will continue to push for NGV buses while Samak government is still in office

Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) managing director Pinetr Puapatanakul is pushing for Cabinet approval of the lease while the Samak Sundaravej government is still in office.

The Samak government decided to delay a decision on the BMTA's lease of the buses to defuse the opposition's threat to attack the Transport Ministry on the issue during the previous censure debate.

The project remains on track despite the parliamentary debate. Last Monday, the BMTA pushed it at a meeting of the mass-transit committee, chaired by Samak, hoping to have the matter resubmitted to the Cabinet.

Pinetr said if the leasing of 6,000 NGV buses failed to win Cabinet approval during this government's term, it would be difficult to proceed with the project. He said Samak had a deep understanding of transport issues, particularly those affecting the BMTA.

At last Monday's meeting, the BMTA highlighted the necessity of pushing the project forward.

Pinetr said the BMTA had suffered losses of Bt6 billion a year and that the NGV-bus project would improve the organisation's financial position. The NGV buses would also contribute profits to the agency, allowing it to repay accumulated debts of about Bt74 billion to creditors within 10 years.

The BMTA could also increase its fleet and take over the operations of some private operators through the NGV buses, he said. The buses will encourage passengers to use the BMTA service, because the buses are new and the fares set at only Bt15 a trip, or Bt30 throughout a day.

Pinetr said the rental fee of Bt5,100 per bus per day that the Democrat Party raised in the censure debate was not final, as bidding for the bus supply had not opened yet.

"To finalise the rental fee, the BMTA will take into account daily revenue and an operating profit of 10 per cent of the revenue. Fuel and administrative costs will be deducted. We're certain we'll not face a loss," he insisted.