#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

New free-flow system at tollbooths will use AI to nab drivers who fail to pay monthly

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Transport Ministry will use artificial intelligence as part of its planned “M-Flow” system that will replace conventional barriers at toll ways and charge drivers on a monthly basis. AI will be used to detect licence plates and share information with police so legal action can be taken against drivers who fail to pay or those who use “illegal” vehicles.

The new system will help the free flow of vehicles at tollbooths, which are often traffic choke points.

Vehicles normally pile up at toll-gate barriers, creating a long line of traffic stretching from expressway and motorway booths and causing delays in journeys, the Department of Highways (DoH) noted.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob had announced the automatic fee-collection system without any barriers, called “Multi-Lane Free Flow” or “M-Flow”.

The DoH had studied and developed the system, which uses video tolling technology, an artificial intelligence system that can automatically detect vehicle licence plates. AI will record vehicle registrations to collect toll fees on a monthly basis, just like water, electricity and phone bills.

A search through bidding is underway for a contractor to install the M-Flow system on Motorway No 9, the Eastern Outer Ring Road (Bang Pa-in-Bang Phli), that includes two toll points – Thap Chang 1 and Thap Chang 2 – with no M-Pass or cash collection.

The DoH expects to test the system in real time by December before fully opening it to the public after the New Year in January 2021.

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) will then try out the M-Flow system on Chalong Rat Expressway (Ramintra-At Narong) in February 2021.

The firm that wins the bidding will get to install the new systems and manage motorways, including tolls, starting with the Thap Chang 1 and Thap Chang 2 toll points, then expanding to other points by the end of 2021.

When using the M-Flow system, existing toll gates will not be used.

The new free-flow system will help in detecting “illegal” or errant vehicles by integrating information with the Department of Land Transport’s (DLT) database to know the vehicle type, history, legal status, etc before forwarding the information to the police for investigation and legal action.

Exat and the DLT have had problems collecting cash from drivers who have “fled” tollbooths and failed to pay.

The private operator that’s given the job will need to guarantee revenue from toll collection.

The idea is being discussed with traffic police to work on a traffic law and information network, which will then be submitted to the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic for consideration.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Tropical storm gathers speed, set to strike during weekend

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Thai Meteorological Department reported on Thursday (September 17) that tropical storm Noul, with sustained winds of 80 kilometres per hour, was expected intensify and make landfall between the cities of Hue and Da Nang in central Vietnam.

It will then hit the North and Northeast of Thailand over the weekend, and further strengthen with southwest monsoon winds across the Andaman Sea. Torrential rain and strong winds are expected to lash the Northeast, before moving on to the North, Central, East and South.

People in risky areas have been warned of flash floods and runoffs, while generally the public has been told to avoid large trees and insecure buildings.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Elderly, disabled get their monthly allowance from govt

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Local Administration posted a statement on Facebook saying that monthly welfare payments were made to the elderly and disabled on Thursday (September 17).

These payments used to be made on the 10th of every month, but were delayed this month due to the reallocation of funds for the Comptroller General and related state agencies.

Anucha Burapachaisri, a newly-appointed government spokesman, said the payments had also been delayed because the number of eligible people had increased and the initial budget was not enough to pay everybody.

As of February 2019, Thailand had 8.76 million elderly people, but by this month, the number had risen by 184,000.

Similarly, as of February 2019, there were 1.83 million people with disabilities, but the number had risen by 260,000 by this month.

Those with disabilities will get a flat Bt800 per month, while the elderly will be paid based on their age. Those between 60 and 69 get Bt600, those between 70 and 79 get Bt700, those between 80 and 89 get Bt800, while those above the age of 90 get Bt1,000.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Thammasat prohibits all activities at Tha Phra Chan campus this weekend

NationalSep 17. 2020

By THE NATION

Thammasat University announced on Thursday (September 17) that it was prohibiting all activities in its Tha Phra Chan campus on Saturday and Sunday (September 19-20).

The statement, signed by Assoc Prof Dr Munin Pongsapan, dean of the Faculty of Law, said the prohibition is in line with instructions from the authorities.

The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration and Free People movements are scheduled to hold their rally at the campus on September 19.

The university has also been told to close all its entrances except for the one that opens out to Tha Phra Arthit Road.

Everybody entering the university on Saturday will be required to show their ID card, student card or staff card before entering.

The statement also said that the Faculty of Law will be closed during the weekend, but some staffs will be present to tend to urgent work.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Family of five shot dead in Thung Kru

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

Police have launched an investigation into a shooting in Bangkok’s Thung Kru district that left two men, two women and a child dead.

Pol Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen, deputy police spokesman, said the five people – a grandfather, grandmother, mother, father and a nine-year-old boy – were killed in their home in Suksawat alley at around 8.30am on Thursday (September 17).

The family had been running a chemical business from the house.

The forensic team collecting evidence from the crime scene found a gun in the hand of the boy’s father, who was identified as “Lek”.

Neighbours said they heard the grandmother shout: “Lek, you’re hurting me.”

Police believe Lek may have been facing financial stress and decided to murder his father, mother, wife and son before killing himself.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Elephant shot dead, head ripped off ‘for ivory’ at Narathiwat national park

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

Sipo Waterfall National Park officials believe a carcass of a headless elephant that was found in the park in Narathiwat was the ghastly work of ivory traders.

On September 14, park officials were notified of the appalling incident by the Ban Chue Ko village headman in Si Sakhon district and promptly went to investigate.

They found the carcass of the 15-year-old male elephant in a canal and had to drag the dead animal back up on the bank before conducting an autopsy.

A forensic team said the elephant was killed at least two weeks ago. They found evidence that it was shot dead by bullets though no bullet was found at the scene.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said on its official Facebook page that the elephant’s head and tail were missing, leading to the belief that the animal was killed for its tusks.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

MP pictured looking at adult video:

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

Palang Pracharat Party MP Ronnathep Anuwat complained that someone was attempting to defame him after he was pictured looking at an adult video during a Parliament meeting on the Budget Procedures Act draft yesterday (September 16).

Anuwat said someone sent him a message asking for help, but when he clicked the message, it instead showed the video full of female nudity. A photo of him was captured at that precise moment, he said, so he believed someone was trying to defame him.

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said he acknowledged the situation but could only warn Anuwat about it. This was a personal issue because the House did not prohibit MPs from watching any kind of media, Chuan added.

Moreover, no other MPs complained about it and if they did, the subject would be considered on the basis of whether or not it contradicted parliamentary ethics.

He said the public should separate personal matters from MPs’ duties as the situation was not so different from wearing masks, which was not mandatory.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

No Covid-19 cases reported in past 24 hours

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported zero cases over a 24-hour period today (September 17).

Nine patients have meanwhile recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The number of confirmed cases in Thailand remains at 3,490 (552 in state quarantine). Of these, 107 are in hospital and 3,325 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains unchanged at 58.

The CCSA reported that 101,673 have so far entered state quarantine (1,017 in the past 24 hours), with 92,842 of these returning home. Some 552 people were found in quarantine to be infected, and 445 have been successfully treated and sent home.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed cases globally has passed 30 million (increasing by 307,465 in 24 hours). Of these, 21.8 million have recovered, 61,245 are in severe condition and 945,072 have died.

Thailand ranks a safe 128th for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number, with 6.82 million, followed by India (5.1 million), Brazil (4.42 million), Russia (1.07 million) and Peru (744,400).

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Gold Line monorail service postponed to year-end

NationalSep 17. 2020

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) has announced that the planned October opening of its Gold Line monorail will be postponed to December.

BTS chief executive officer Surapong Laoha-Unya said both the running system and the signalling system were presently undergoing tests.

He explained this would take time, so the Gold Line monorail opening would be postponed to the end of the year.

He did not confirm that all stations on this short line would be ready for passengers when the train services start.

“However, the BTS will hasten our operation to make sure that all stations are ready,” he added.

The monorail will have three stations – Krung Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Klong San – before linking up with the BTS Green Line.

According to BTS information, each train will consist of two bogies carrying 276 passengers at a time, with all monorail trains together transporting 4,000 to 12,000 passengers per hour. The trains will run every six to 12 minutes, covering a 1.7-kilometre distance.

The prominent places along the Gold Line route include Icon Siam, Lhong 1919, Taksin Hospital and Somdet Chaopraya Hospital.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

MRTA extends fare reduction period on Purple Line

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has extended the period of its Purple Line fare reduction in accordance with the present Covid-19 situation, encouraging people to use the line more.

MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantamas said today (September 17) that its board passed a resolution yesterday approving a continued fare reduction on the Chalong Ratchatham MRT (Tao Poon-Khlong Bang Phai) from the normal price of a maximum Bt42 to a minimum Bt14 and a maximum Bt20.

The fare reduction was set to end on September 30, but has now been extended until further notice to help relieve the cost of living.

The Purple Line fare reduction has seen the MRTA’s income decrease by approximately Bt20 million per month. In the past, the authority used reserve funds to subsidise the difference in income. Its reserves are presently reported to be approximately Bt160 million from a previous Bt500 million. The MRTA will now ask the government for financial support.

Around 40,000 passengers use the Purple Line each day, down from a previous average of 60,000. Blue Line trains average 330,000-340,000 passengers per day, down from the previous 380,000