Free rides on selected public buses and trains will be extended for another three months, until the end of January, Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck said on Tuesday.
The current term of free third-class train and non-air-conditioned bus rides, subsidised by the government, will expire on Oct 31, said Mr Ormsin.
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMA) acting director Pranee Sugasorn said on Tuesday that a Transport Ministry committee tasked with setting conditions for commuters' entitlement to free bus and train services was unable to issue cards for eligible low-income earners by Oct 31.
The panel, chaired by permanent secretary for transport Soithip Traisut, therefore proposed that the free ride services be extended for another three months until Jan 31.
Ms Soithip admitted the panel had yet to settle on a suitable earnings level for people to be defined as low-income earners.
Earlier, the ministry proposed it should be 3,632 baht a month, but the National Economic and Social Development Board had asked it to re-calculate the figure.
The free-to-ride bus project was launched by the People's Power Party-led government in 2008 to help low-income people for six months. It has since been extended every six months by subsequent governments. It is provided only for regular or "hot" buses. Air-conditioned buses and routes run by private firms are excluded from the scheme.