Plan to replace vans gathers pace

Plan to replace vans gathers pace

Authorities moved inter-city vans to the three main Bangkok bus station, along with many of the vans running inside the capital. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Authorities moved inter-city vans to the three main Bangkok bus station, along with many of the vans running inside the capital. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Central Land Transport Control Board is expected to approve later this month a proposal involving technical and safety specifications for micro buses that will replace passenger vans.

Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akarathit said the proposal is designed to ensure the new vehicles meet safety standards and Transport Co will procure a total of 55 micro buses in line with those specifications once approved.

The move is part of the Transport Ministry's plan to phase out interprovincial passenger vans and replace them with micro buses by year-end to improve passenger safety after a series of accidents involving passenger vans. About 6,400 vans operating under concessions from the state-owned Transport Co are expected to be phased out starting from July 1. He said the specifications include the size, the number of seats, and necessary equipment to be installed on the vehicles such as fire extinguishers and emergency exits.

Mr Pichit said the proposal also includes insurance coverage for passengers of micro buses. Under the proposal, mandatory insurance coverage is 300,000 baht per head while voluntary insurance coverage is 700,000 baht per passenger.

He said the Department of Land Transport also plans to launch a pilot project to partially replace passenger vans operating in Bangkok and surrounding provinces with micro buses. Authorities have been discussing how to encourage small-time operators of passenger vans or micro buses to register as juristic entities, he said. Authorities believe they will enforce the laws more efficiently if they are grouped together and registered as juristic persons, he said.

Sanit Promwong, director-general of the DLT, said the pilot scheme to replace passenger vans will cover new bus routes under the bus route reform plan. This is to avoid affecting the existing operators and the scheme is likely to take shape in July.

There are three categories of passenger vans, and 13,000 of the vehicles in service. Of all, 5,000 operate in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, 5,000 provide services between Bangkok and upcountry provinces, and another 3,000 operate between the provinces. The Transport Ministry is holding talks with the Finance Ministry about helping the operators who will be affected by the switch from passenger vans to micro buses.

Tax measures are being considered as they are likely to bring down investment costs. "A micro bus costs about 2 million baht including 40% import taxes. If the taxes are reduced, it will help a lot," he said.

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