The Transport Ministry has ordered plans for the 40-baht flat fare across all city metro lines to be finalised by Thursday for implementation under the current government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has instructed the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to accelerate its study on consolidating all urban rail systems to operate under a single management model and introducing a one-day flat fare of 40 baht covering all lines.
The move aims to expand the unified fare policy beyond the existing Red and Purple lines, where the 40-baht day pass is scheduled to launch on Dec 1 and continue until Nov 30 next year.
Mr Phiphat said the MRTA must provide a detailed report, including financial assessments on compensation and potential buybacks of private rail concessions to bring them back under state ownership. “This will require discussions with the Finance Ministry,” he noted.
He directed the MRTA to submit its findings to the Transport Ministry by Nov 6, after which the proposal will be presented to the Committee on Rail Fare Policy Reform on Nov 11.
The final plan is expected to go before the cabinet on Nov 25, with the goal of implementing the policy within the tenure of the current government.
Regarding the buyback of private rail concessions, Mr Phiphat said the government would later contract private firms to manage and operate the lines. However, he stressed that any funding arrangement for the buyback must avoid increasing the national debt burden.
One option under review is the introduction of a congestion charge to generate revenue for the buyback, but Mr Phiphat acknowledged that this approach could take considerable time to implement.