DLT eyes S44 to revamp bus routes
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has agreed to seek the use of special power under Section 44 to revoke concessions granted to private bus operators in Bangkok to allow for city bus routes to be rearranged for greater mass transit efficiency.
DLT deputy director-general Cherdchai Sanansrisakhon said the department will ask the Transport Ministry to seek the prime minister’s power under Section 44 to scrap the concessions.
When the concessions are cancelled, the department will be able to reorganise the city bus routes and better allocate those on which the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) buses will operate as well as the routes where the private bus operators will be given concessions to run.
Mr Cherchai said invocation of the special power will be timely as most of the concessions have already expired anyway.
He gave his assurance the use of Section 44 will not disrupt the running of city bus transport.
The revamp of the bus routes was intended to tackle the problems arising from many buses running along overlapping routes and provide a seamless connection with other modes of transport.
Mr Cherdchai said new bus routes will be introduced and some buses will be rerouted as part of the revamp. He added the reorganisation is expected to be unveiled this year.
The DLT’s announcement came as the BMTA workers union petitioned the department yesterday demanding that BMTA buses retain the exclusive right to serve 138 of the 269 city routes under the restructuring plan.
Of the 138 routes, 18 will be new, including those extending between Rangsit and Bang Khen via Sai Mai, Suan Siam and Bang Bon, and Tha Rua Phra Padaeng and Chatuchak.
The union president, Veerapong Wongwaen, led a group of BMTA employees in presenting the petition to the DLT chief.
He said the union had heard that the department may permit the BMTA to run exclusively on only 55 routes.
The employees said that in addition to the exclusive right, the department should issue a licence for the BMTA buses to operate the 138 routes for at least seven years.
Mr Veerapong said private bus operators should be allowed to run 131 other routes alongside the BMTA buses for the sake of competition.
The union has given the ministry seven days to agree to their demands or it will stage a rally.