Govt axes renewal of van permits

Govt axes renewal of van permits

All vans are to be replaced with minibuses with a minimum of 20 seats. (File photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
All vans are to be replaced with minibuses with a minimum of 20 seats. (File photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

The Transport Ministry has abolished the renewal and issuance of passenger van permits as part of measures to replace the vehicles with minibuses in a bid to curb traffic accidents.

Speaking after a meeting on the safety of van transport, Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akrathit said the meeting agreed to terminate the extension and issuing of all passenger van permits nationwide as of Thursday.

All vans will be replaced with minibuses with a minimum of 20 seats. Ending passenger van transport is part of the government's plan to decrease the number of casualties from van-related road accidents.

As for existing vans which are currently in operation, Mr Pichit said they are required to complete vehicle inspections and be installed with global positioning systems by the end of March to monitor drivers, and put in fireproof seat cushions. However, those vans will be allowed to operate for a maximum period of 10 years.

Mr Pichit said new minibuses were scheduled to operate on 13 routes with a distance not exceeding 300 kilometres, as set out by state-owned Transport Co Ltd, starting from July 1.

The route change is aimed at encouraging van operators to invest in minibus transport. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) will also help operators who are interested in the new mode of transport to manage their operating routes.

The department is working on measures which will help lessen the effects on van operators of changing vehicles as much as possible, he added.

Meanwhile, Transport Co vice-president Nopparat Karoonyavanich said the 13 routes were now-defunct lines which were revoked by the company earlier.

A total of 55 minibuses will be put in place for all routes. The first two pilot routes are Bangkok to Ayutthaya and Bangkok to Saraburi with 10 minibuses for each route.

Mr Nopparat said the agency is drafting the terms of reference for the procurement of the minibuses, adding the document will be tabled at a meeting of the firm's committee for consideration. DLT director-general Sanit Promwong urged all van operators to replace their vehicles with minibuses.

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