Dept told to mitigate van operators’ risk
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Department of Land Transport (DLT) to reduce any negative fallout from its plan to decommission thousands of public vans in the wake of mounting complaints from van operators who argue they cannot afford to buy new minibuses and so risk being put out of business.
“The order [to retire the vans] has already been announced. Despite the proper measures being implemented, however, the plan has engendered significant conflict,” Gen Prayut said yesterday, referring to complaints from public van operators.
The DLT has ordered that public vans more than 10 years old be decommissioned and new vans not be permitted to register as public service vehicles, to improve public safety.
The aim is to replace the nation’s fleet of more than 12,000 vans with new minibuses by 2028. This year, 1,548 vans are scheduled to be sent to the graveyard.
The policy has drawn flak from operators and activists.
Activist Srisuwan Janya issued a public appeal yesterday asking Gen Prayut to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to lift the ban.
He and 200 other operators asked the Central Administrative Court on Monday to request an immediate injunction. The court refused, allowing the DLT to proceed with its policy.
According to DLT reports, 248 vans have been retired since the move was implemented on Monday. Queues at popular van stations like Min Buri and Muang Thong Thani were visibly longer.
In another development, the Police Strategy Office has asked the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to review the special bus routes it deployed early last month to combat worsening traffic conditions caused by the construction of electric train lines across the capital.
The office’s commissioner, Kraiboon Suadsong, made the comments after chairing a committee meeting to decrease traffic in Bangkok and its metropolitan area yesterday, attended by several transport authorities.
Two non-stop bus routes — Route 145 from Phraeksa garage in Samut Prakan to Mor Chit Bus Terminal, and Route 168 from Min Buri Market to Victory Monument — were chosen by the BMTA to help commuters, since both routes have the option of using expressways.
The buses are planned to reduce congestion on Ram Intra and Ramkhamhaeng roads, in light of the construction of the Pink Line monorail from Khae Rai in Nonthaburi to Min Buri, and the first section of the Orange Line from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Min Buri.
However, police said both routes should have drawn more commuters. They have asked the operator to determine if there are any problems and propose solutions.