Cars to face higher tolls from Sept

Expressway tolls for passenger cars will be hiked by Bt5 to Bt45 from September.

Drivers of other vehicles will also face higher tolls. For six-wheel vehicles the fee will rise from Bt60 to Bt70. For vehicles with more than 10 wheels, the fee will rise from Bt85 to Bt100.

Surachai Thansitpong, deputy permanent secretary at the Transport Ministry, said yesterday that the Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority had approved the new tariff.

The toll between Chaeng Wattana and Prachacheun roads will also increase by Bt15, Bt20 and Bt35 according to distance, and Bt25, Bt50 and Bt70 for the section between the Rama IX and Srinakarin exits.

The cost for using the expressway's Udon Rattaya extension between Bang Pa-in-Pakkret will also be adjusted up from Bt40 to Bt45 for passenger cars, Bt80 to Bt90 for six- to 10-wheel vehicles, and Bt125 to Bt140 for more than 10 wheels. However, the change for this section will take effect on November 1.

The authority will forward the proposed new tariffs to the ministry soon so an amended ministerial regulation can be issued.

Bangkok Expressway  (BECL) will also ask the ministry to impose the 3-per-cent value-added tax on users. So far, BECL has had to shoulder the VAT, which has cost it Bt700-800 million per year.

Surachai noted that BECL was not satisfied with the new tolls and she wants them increased to Bt55, Bt90 and Bt120 for each type of vehicle.

"BECL has a different price base to calculate the tolls. But we have to strictly abide by regulations and concessions and the attorney-general's suggestions," she said.

Pachoen Parojsak, governor of the authority, said the revised tariff would allow it to chalk up better operating results next year. Its net profit is expected to reach Bt1.1 billion this year, down from Bt1.3 billion last year, due to the opening of a new ring road on November 15 last year.