Bus fares in Thailand's capital to rise

BANGKOK, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's (BMTA) bus fare increases will be effective from Monday, BMTA's Acting Director Prayoon Chuaykaew confirmed on Sunday.

The fare for the BMTA's non-air-conditioned buses will be increased from 6.50 baht (20 U.S. cents) to 8 baht (25 U.S. cents) on Monday and will be raised again next year to 10 baht (31 U.S. cents).

The private sector's non-air-conditioned buses will be increased from 9 baht (28 U.S. cents) to 10 baht (31 U.S. cents), which also starts on Monday, Prayoon said.

The air-conditioned buses in the capital will see their fares increase from a range of 11 baht (35 U.S. cents) to 23 baht (72 U.S. cents), depending on the distance, to a range of 12 baht (37 U.S. cents) to 24 baht (75 U.S. cents).

Prayoon said the move was approved by a committee of the Department of Land Transport even though the administrative court might issue a petition against it.

Meanwhile, the fares for the transport company's tour buses plying between Bangkok and other provinces will also be increased by an average of 10 percent.