Briefs

Taxi passengers should be happy after Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday put the brakes on another fare increase in Bangkok. Arkhom said lower fuel prices meant a fare hike was unnecessary, while the price of natural gas for vehicles was also stable.
The minister spoke after presiding over the opening ceremony of an “All Thai Taxi” event.
 He said the government would receive the outcome of a passenger-satisfaction assessment in October.
“There is an important problem that needs to be resolved urgently – taxis refusing passengers,” he said.
Previously, the ministry approved a fare increase of 8 per cent.
The current flagfall is Bt35.

TV RATING SYSTEM FUNDING DECISION PUT OFF
The broadcasting regulator’s funds committee has postponed its decision on whether to grant Bt370 million to create a new TV ratings system after Channel 7 and Nielsen (Thailand) opposed the idea.
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said yesterday that the panel wanted to make the right decision, so it agreed to take the matter to a legal advisory committee.
On Wednesday, Bangkok Broadcasting and Television – the operator of Channel 7 – submitted a written protest against the proposal.
Nielsen lodged its complaint on Monday, calling for fair treatment from the NBTC if it decided to support the Media Research Bureau as Nielsen’s rival.

JOHNSON CONTROLS TOUTS GTIAC
Johnson Controls claims that its unveiling of a range of gas turbine inlet air cooling solutions at Power Gen Asia marks the first time a chiller manufacturer is offering complete, packaged and pre-packaged GTIAC solutions.
The company said GTIAC was widely recognised as the most effective method to increase the power output of gas-turbine-driven power plants, ensuring peak performance in environments with high ambient temperatures. It said that among its range of GTIAC solutions was the new YCP-2020, the first pre-packaged, containerised mechanical-based GTIAC solution in the market.