Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) on Monday to make fares on new mass-transit rail lines affordable for the poor.
Presiding over the start of the test runs for the Purple Line between Bang Yai and Tao Poon, Gen Prayut said the current fares of 14-42 baht were too high for Bangkok's low-income residents, so the MRTA should devise measures to allow them to be able to use the electric-rail system.
He said the huge infrastructure project should be designed for maximum utilisation, even if additional lines, requiring lower amounts of investment, are needed to serve low-income areas.
"My policy is to reduce the income gap so low-income earners can have the opportunity to use the electric train service," said Gen Prayut.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha inspects the Purple Line at its depot in Nonthaburi on Monday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
He said he believes the control centre for the mass-transit system, trains and connecting buses should be integrated into one network. He has assigned his deputy, ACM Prajin Juntong, to outline such a plan.
He said the trains were a way to reduce road congestion and said the Purple Line needs to be finished as soon as possible to serve areas between Bang Sue and Bang Yai.
The 26-kilometre Bang Sue-Bang Yai Purple Line will have 16 stations, four park-and-ride centres and one depot. SET-listed Bangkok Metro Plc has received a 30-year concession to operate the line, which is expected to serve up to 60,000 commuters a day.
The Purple Line will be tested privately for several months before opening to the public to try free of charge in May. It is expected to be fully operational beginning Aug 12.
Gen Prayut suggested that the MRTA should also consider designing stations that include retail and parking space in order to generate income to offset the investment cost. That, in turn, could lead to cheaper fares, he said.
The premier also wants the rail-system contractors to source parts, where possible, from Thailand in order to strengthen the economy.
A construction worker stands inside a tunnel under the Chao Phraya River at a Blue Line subway station in Bangkok Dec 14. (Reuters photo)
After visiting the Nonthaburi railyard for the Purple Line, the prime minister's entourage went underground, walking the tunnel under the Chao Phraya River to inspect the progress on the Blue Line.
Gen Prayut presided over a ceremony at the Blue Line's planned Sanam Chai station in Phra Nakhon district to mark the completion of digging of the 200-metre tunnel.