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Bangkok governor insists fare ceiling for BTS Green Line is Bt65

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation

Since BTS will stop providing free services on its Green Line extension from Friday, the public is concerned that Skytrain fares may go beyond Bt100.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has, however, issued a statement putting speculation to rest, saying the ceiling for fares has been set at Bt65.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said on Tuesday that the Interior Ministry has proposed the fare and concession for the BTS Green Line extension to the Cabinet for approval.

He added that if the BTS concession has not been confirmed, then the BMA will have to ask the Interior Ministry of the next step.

BTSC, which has been operating the BTS Green Line extension from Bearing to Samut Prakan since 2018 and from Mo Chit to Khu Khot since 2020, has demanded more than Bt8 billion in operation costs.

The operator claims it is incurring a loss of Bt93 per passenger because the fare from end to end should be Bt158.

BMA, meanwhile, has said the government should be responsible for this as the city administration does not have enough cash to cover this cost.

“Over the past two years, fares for the Green Line extension have not been collected because it has been in the trial business. Also, BMA does not know how to set the fares because some stations are still being built,” Aswin said.

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Marine Dept to seek over Bt18 billion in funds for fiscal 2022

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The Marine Department is planning to seek Bt18.7 billion in funding for fiscal 2022, of which Bt1.25 billion will be earmarked for operations and Bt17.45 billion as capital budget, a source said on Friday.

“The department came up with the budget request at a meeting on Thursday, chaired by director general Wittaya Yamuang. The department needs to start new projects as planned and complete the ongoing ones on time,” the source said. “The department will later submit the draft, along with master plans, missions and goals of each project to the Transport Ministry for approval before submitting it to the Budget Bureau.”

The department’s key projects scheduled to kick off in 2022 include the digging and maintaining of water courses and piers in Songkhla province costing Bt131 million, in Samut Sakhon costing Bt357 million, in Surat Thani worth Bt719 million, in Pattani for Bt287 million, in Chachoengsao for Bt552 million, and in Ranong for Bt496 million.

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SRTET to operate Red Line until CP is ready to take over

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

SRT Electrified Train Co Ltd (SRTET) will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Red Line urban train from Bang Sue to Rangsit stations and from Bang Sue to Taling Chan stations for 11 months starting in January, or until the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) finalises the contract with the private partner to take over the operation.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Thursday that according to the schedule set by SRT, the Red Line will be transferred to CP Group, who will take over the operation of Airport Rail Link and urban train system on October 24,” he said. “However, if the transfer is not completed by then, SRT will continue to hire SRTET to manage the Red Line to ensure continued service and maintenance.”

CP Group won a public-private partnership contract to operate the high-speed train project that links three airports — Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao — and will also manage the connecting Airport Rail Link and urban train routes.

According to the source, CP Group has already started the study on Airport Rail Link operation and has invited applications from qualified candidates to join its staff.

“CP Group will have to pay the operation transfer fee of Bt16 billion to SRT before the October 24 deadline, and both parties are negotiating the terms and conditions of payment,” added the source.

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Every problem has a solution

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The new normal generally has people wearing face masks to protect themselves, maintaining social distancing, getting their temperature checked or washing their hands diligently with alcoholic sanitiser.

However, in the South of Thailand, the new normal also includes people sending money in bottles to friends and family living across the border in Malaysia.

People in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district have been prohibited from crossing the border in a bid to prevent new infections. Strict measures are also in place to stop people from sneaking across.

Due to these measures, people are not able to contact or provide assistance to their family members living across the Sungai Kolok River on the Malaysian side of the border.

So they have come up with an ingenious solution – stretching a rope across the river and slipping cash or medicines across in a bottle.

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New Covid wave leaves Cha-am beach empty

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The once bustling beach in Phetchaburi’s Cha-am district is now mostly quiet after a new wave of Covid-19 infections hit Thailand in December.

Prasarn Phromsri, 56, the owner of a beachside seafood stall said his shop has hardly had any visitors since the New Year and hopes the government will roll out measures to help small merchants survive.

Meanwhile, Wasan Kittikul, president of the Thai Hotels in Western Region Association, said that due to a drastic drop in customers, hotel operators in the province have had to slash their room rates as well as reduce the working hours of staff to save cost.

“Some hotels have even shut down temporarily until the situation improves,” he said. “The association expects domestic tourists to return to Cha-am by the end of 2021, when the new wave is under control

“Some hotels even have to temporarily shut down until the situation improves,” he said. “The association expects domestic tourists to return to Cha Am by the end of 2021 when the new wave is under control, and foreign tourists may return in 2022 once international travel restrictions are lifted.”

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Elephant raids Khao Yai camping ground, flings man to his death

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

Campers in Khao Yai were shocked out of their sleep on Friday morning when a wild elephant invaded the camping ground and killed an old man sleeping in his tent.

The elephant ran into the Pha Kluai Mai camping ground at around 2am and entered the tent of Prayod Chitboon, 80. It then grabbed the man with its trunk and flung him against a tree, killing him immediately.

The rest of the campers ran to safety.

Khao Yai officials said later that the dead man’s car was filled with pomelos and the animal was possibly lured by the load.

Officials also found Bt103,108 in cash among Prayod’s belongings and have called his relatives to take the money.

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Government in talks with South Korea on tackling Bangkok’s traffic woes

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation

The government is in discussions to tap South Korean expertise in order to tackle the traffic problems plaguing Bangkok.

Chayathon Phomsorn, permanent secretary at the Transport Ministry, and Hyun-jong Joo, Assistant Minister of Land Infrastructure and Transportation of South Korea, co-chaired a working committee meeting on Thursday to discuss traffic problems in Bangkok under the memorandum of cooperation on road transport.

The main purpose of the meeting was to define the scope and key principles of cooperation in road transport as well as developing road transport plans and projects in which Thailand and South Korea have a common interest.

The Thai side is focusing on:

▪︎Solving traffic problems on Ratchadaphisek Ring Road (Rama 9 – Asoke – Rama 4) over Asoke Road, which currently faces a traffic bottleneck.

▪︎Establishing lanes for public buses (Bus Way) around the island in the middle of Rama IV Road to promote the use of public buses rather than private cars to reduce traffic on the road.

▪︎The construction of an underground tunnel under the Chao Phraya River, Sathon – Bangna to solve traffic problems in the area.

▪︎Adopt artificial intelligence technology to help manage traffic problems such as traffic volume, congestion and waiting lines, etc.

▪︎Solving traffic problems on the expressway in Bangkok.

The issues on the Korean agenda were: a pilot to improve traffic management around Asoke Road and Victory Monument; the construction of an underground tunnel under the Chao Phraya River Sathon-Bangna to solve traffic problems, and, electronic road pricing system to manage traffic entering Bangkok.

The next round of discussions will be held in May.

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188 new Covid-19 cases reported, including 13 caught sneaking across border

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 188 new cases on Friday, including 34 people who returned from overseas or sneaked across the border.

Of the returnees, 13 are Thai nationals, including one from the US, one from the Czech Republic, one from Sudan, one from the United Arab Emirates, six from Germany and three from Turkey.

Also testing positive were a British national who flew in from Hungary, a French national from Belgium, an Indian from Kuwait, a Filipino, a Pakistani national, a Russian, a Swiss national and an Egyptian national who flew in from their respective nations.

Meanwhile, 13 Thais were arrested for sneaking across the Thai-Myanmar border and sent to Mae Sot hospital for treatment.

Of the new cases, 81 were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Provinces with the highest number of infections are Bangkok with 27 and Samut Sakhon with 47.

Proactive testing led to 73 cases, mostly in Samut Sakhon where 52 foreigners tested positive.

Meanwhile, 628 patients have recovered and been discharged.

The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 11,450 – 9,204 of which were contracted domestically, including 3,260 found via proactive testing and 2,246 returnees. So far, 8,288 have recovered and been discharged, 3,093 patients are still in hospital and the death toll remains at 69.

According to Worldometer, as of midnight on Thursday, the total number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 93.53 million (up by 749,265), 66.8 million have recovered, 24.7 million are active cases (111,793 in severe condition) and 2 million have died (up by 16,001).

Thailand ranks 128th on the global list of most cases, while the US tops the list with 23.85 million, followed by India 10.53 million, Brazil 8.32 million, Russia 3.49 million and the United Kingdom 3.26 million.

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Pollution hits unhealthy levels in 11 areas of Bangkok, its vicinity

NationalJan 15. 2021

By The Nation
Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha

Air pollution in 11 areas in Bangkok and its vicinity hit unsafe levels on Friday morning with PM2.5 readings coming in at 44 to 111 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), the Pollution Control Department reported.

The department said it expects the PM2.5 level to rise until Saturday due to a drop in wind speed, adding that the situation should improve on Sunday.

Thailand’s standard for safe levels of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) is 50μg/m3, whereas the World Health Organisation sets it at 25μg/m3.

11 areas where the pollution has hit unsafe levels are:

Bangkok:

• Bang Khunthien 111μg/m3

• Phra Khanong 91μg/m3

• Bang Na 99μg/m3

• Sai Mai 92μg/m3

• Prawet 108μg/m3

• Nong Khaem district 92μg/m3

• Don Mueang 93μg/m3

• Chom Thong 93μg/m3

Samut Prakan

• Muang district 111μg/m3

• Bang Sao Thong 99μg/m3

Samut Sakhon

• Muang district 111μg/m3

People in areas with high levels of PM2.5 have been advised to monitor their health and reduce time spent outdoors, especially the elderly, children and patients with respiratory ailments.

Pollution levels can be monitored via the Air4Thai.com website or its smartphone app, or via bangkokairquality.com.

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Baht stays firm, but funds inflows to determine direction

NationalJan 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30 to the US dollar on Friday, unchanged from Thursday’s closing rate.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.90 and 30.05, said Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool.

On Thursday night, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes fell by 0.4 and 0.1 per cent, after initial jobless claims announced this week were almost 1 million positions. It was worse than what the market expected at around 800,000 positions.

Meanwhile, tech stocks were sold for speculation, due to investors’ concerns over their value, while the US Ten-Year Treasury yield rose by 4 basis points to 1.13 per cent.

Poon explained that the Treasury tended to grow continually, after Joe Biden reportedly decided to propose a stimulus measure to the Congress.

In the financial market, the dollar weakened, compared to other main currencies. This happened after the Fed chairman assured that his organisation would not hasten relaxation of quantitative easing or increase the tax rate.

Poon mentioned that US retail sales in December rose by 0.2 per cent from November, when sales had contracted by 1.1 per cent. Also, the UofM Consumer Sentiment this month touched 81 points from 80.7 points in December.

In Thailand, the market strategist said that the baht’s direction would depend on funds flow from foreign countries, and the virus situation in the country was a key factor.