Some fares on the Green Line will have to increase because the current fare structure of the light-rail mass transit service is unsustainable, according to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.
He made the comment on Wednesday after Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) councillors approved a plan to settle the city’s 32-billion-baht debt owed to the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) for the operation and maintenance of the Green Line extensions.
A new fare structure will cap fares across the entire line at 65 baht, but fares for some short trips will be lower than they are now.
The Green Line consists of two sections: the original core route, operated under a government concession with a maximum fare of 45 baht, and extensions 1 and 2, operated by the BMA, said Mr Chadchart.
The BMA spends around 8 billion baht a year running the two extensions but collects only 2 billion baht in fare revenue, with the gap covered by the city budget, he explained.
The new fare structure will reflect actual operating costs. It will feature a 17-baht base fare, plus or minus three baht per unit of distance. This would lower fares for short-distance riders – for example, a trip from Chatuchak to Central Ladprao could drop from 15 baht to just 3 or 4 baht – while longer trips would cost more.
However, total fares for any journey would be capped at 65 baht.
At the council meeting on Wednesday, members approved a supplementary budget for the 2026 fiscal year to allocate up to 32.6 billion baht for debt repayment.
A panel overseeing the issue made two recommendations. First, the BMA should outline a payment plan for operation and maintenance expenses of the extensions from September 2025 to the end of fiscal 2026, to avoid late payments that could incur high interest penalties.
Second, agencies should expedite disbursements to reduce the interest burden. The council unanimously passed the ordinance with 48 votes, authorising the debt repayment.
The debt settlement, worth 32 billion baht, is scheduled for completion by the end of this month, and will be in compliance with an earlier Administrative Court order, said Mr Chadchart.
He said the BMA would use accumulated surplus funds, which are uncommitted and free of financial obligations, for the repayment.
‘The decision to repay the debt is about lifting a long-standing burden. The court has ruled the contract must be honoured, he said.
‘Delaying payment would only increase costs due to high interest rates. We’re now paying several million baht in interest every day.’