The junta has ordered a crackdown on mafia-controlled taxi services at Suvarnabhumi airport and promised the public will notice improvements this month.
Dozens of taxis queue for passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport. A panel set up by the military junta to reorganise public transport has vowed to free taxi drivers from mafia-style extortion rackets operating at the airport within a month. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
Maj Gen Nirandorn Samutsakhon, who heads the coup-installed task force charged with regulating taxi services and stamping out extortion rackets, said mafia-controlled taxi services at the airport will be the first thing to go as revamp efforts get under way.
“You will see the difference in a month. The mafia-controlled taxi services will be gone. There will be no gangs managing the taxi queues or screening passengers for cab drivers,” he said.
The move is part of the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) attempts to reorganise public transport services, including passenger vans, motorcycle-taxis and taxis.
The taxi service at Suvarnabhumi airport is known to be regulated by mafia-style extortion gangs.
Maj Gen Nirandorn, commander of the 11th Military Circle, said taxi drivers prefer passengers who want to travel long distances to earn higher cab fares.
Extortion gangs make money by screening passengers for taxi drivers, often refusing services to people wanting to travel short distances.
Under the overhaul plan, taxi queues at the airport will be managed by a computer system, keeping extortionists out of the picture, he said.
“From now on, drivers will have to accept the passengers they get. They can’t choose them. But it is possible a system will be worked out where those who get short-distance passengers will be allowed to make more trips,” he said.
Currently, taxi drivers who are registered with the airport can pick up passengers at Suvarnabhumi twice a day.
Maj Gen Nirandorn said about 7,000 taxi drivers are registered with Suvarnabhumi airport, but only 3,000 turn up regularly. Of 7,000 registered taxis, 70% are privately owned.
He said he has targeted taxi service operations at the airport because it is the front door to the tourism industry.
There are frequent reports of passengers being left stranded, overcharged or lured into illegal activities.
He said the NCPO has information about “men in uniform’’ who are allegedly involved with extortion gangs at the airport and has warned them to back off.
He said he expects them to cooperate and spare him from sending military police to patrol the airport.
Maj Gen Nirandorn said several taxi operators are pushing for fare hikes because the current rates have stayed the same for 10 years.
However, the NCPO has told drivers to maintain fares for the time being.
Under the crackdown, unregistered drivers who drop off passengers at the airport’s departure area will be allowed to pick up passengers if there are any, but they cannot park and wait for passengers.
Maj Gen Nirandorn noted that the NCPO is set to discuss possible legal amendments to ensure that extortion gangs and other criminal problems will not return to Suvarnabhumi airport after military rule is over.
He said Suvarnabhumi airport is not covered by Airports of Thailand laws, so it faces a wider range of problems.
Maj Gen Nirandorn said he will call a meeting with taxi cooperatives and parties concerned next week to discuss the overhaul.
Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager Raweewan Netarakavesana announced yesterday an auction will be called to procure a computer system for managing taxi queues.
She said the proposed system is expected to be operational by early August.
Asdsathai Rattanadilok Na Phuket, director-general of the Land Transport Department, said joint checkpoints will be set up at four locations.
They are Suvarnabhumi airport, Don Mueang airport, Victory Monument and the connection point between the BTS and MRT at Chatuchak Park.
“’The first checkpoint will be set up today at Don Mueang airport. All taxis and drivers will be strictly screened. They will face drastic action if they do not comply with laws and regulations,” he said.
The public will also be able to voice their complaints about public transport at these checkpoints, he said.
Mr Asdsathai said the next step in the campaign is to reorganise taxi queues at bus stops and in front of shopping malls that cause traffic congestion.