Govt won't pay for free bus rides

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Government won't foot free buses tab

Published: 29 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

City Hall will have to foot the whole bill to finance a free public bus scheme in Bangkok, Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt said Monday.

Mr Chadchat was reacting to Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen's campaign pledge to make all non-aircon bus services free of charge if he becomes governor.

Pol Gen Pongsapat has said his free bus fare scheme would be jointly subsidised by the Pheu Thai-led government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

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englishbob
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Discussion 11 : 29 Jan 2013 at 13.1611
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'Seamless'

Yeah right(!) It's started already...
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ricardo
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Discussion 10 : 29 Jan 2013 at 11.5410
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Forget about free bus fares where are the rest of the carriages for each train for both BTS. The stations are designed for six carriages but we only have 3 per train. Neither candidate has talked about getting better train service.
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Eric
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Discussion 9 : 29 Jan 2013 at 09.509
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The fact is that the government is more willing to discuss and provide assistance to Pongsapat if he is the new governor but the same cant be said of Sukhamband. That's the inconvenient truth and alluring fact for Bangkokians to decide on their vote.
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HowIWish
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Discussion 8 : 29 Jan 2013 at 09.308
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Credit to AV for his appropriate clarification points seeking answers, and raising the point that candidates of parties and independents should explain how they will fund their claims. Accountability at last in Thai politics?
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dao
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Discussion 7 : 29 Jan 2013 at 09.047
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Wow free buses that stand in traffic all day .Is that a solution ?When does the subway that reaches all parts of the city get built ? It should have been built 10 years ago .Instead we are giving discounts on cars to make the problem worse .How totally stupid .
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Ian
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Discussion 6 : 29 Jan 2013 at 08.416
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Whereas the controlling force of the PT party is pretty self evident, an uneasy balance between Thaksin, the Red shirts and self seeking politicians, the same clarity is not so easy to discern with the Democrats. Abhisit is a clearly as much a puppet as Yingluck but it is less clear who is pulling his strings. Some of the string pullers are easy to detect but others are better hidden whilst yet others cannot even be mentioned.
But Punch always gets the better of Judy!
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boontong
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Discussion 5 : 29 Jan 2013 at 08.105
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jacksprat #3 - If Contrarian #1 tells you who the boss/master of AV is, it will not be posted. I tried already.
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amazed
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Discussion 4 : 29 Jan 2013 at 07.494
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I think voters have to start thinking for themselves. Most of them have been around for a few elections and by now they should be able to tell if someone is blowing smoke. Candidates often rely on the ignorance and gullibility of voters, and, unfortunately, they are seldom disappointed.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 3 : 29 Jan 2013 at 07.283
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So then, Contrarian, tell us who the big boss of the Democratic Party really is.
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phetpeter
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Discussion 2 : 29 Jan 2013 at 06.592
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He is using the same tactics as the PT, offer free buses to everyone, without worrying about where the cash is coming from, and free money to the Old age, without telling people that only those registered as living in Bangkok will get it! This is the same as giving cash and treats to voters? and illegal?
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