SRT, BMTA budgets sent

The Public Service Commission agreed with the proposals at a meeting on March 20.

The SRT requested a Bt4.85-billion budget for funding its public service (based on its anticipated costs and revenue of Bt5.3 billion and Bt494.5 million, respectively) using 164 bogies. The service will cater to 30.04 million low-income earners in the Kingdom.

In considering the funding of its public service, SRT has followed the principle that it will not provide a train service free of charge, and will raise the fee by 10 per cent according to the Cabinet’s resolution of July 6, 2010. The government, meanwhile, will be responsible for the investment in basic infrastructure for its rail system in accordance with the Cabinet’s resolution on April 27, 2010.

The BMTA requested Bt2.07 billion to fund its public service (based on anticipated cost and revenue from public services of Bt4.2 billion and Bt2.1 billion respectively). It will offer free bus services using 1,562 buses to lower- to middle-income earners living in Bangkok and surrounding areas. The budget request was based on the consideration that the BMTA will not provide free passenger service and will reduce spending on public service in some areas with redundant services. A supporting budget will be provided by the government if any policy to provide free passenger service is announced later, according to the Cabinet resolution of January 18, 2011.