The Mor Chit bus terminal was packed with passengers all day Saturday as people began streaming home to the provinces for the New Year holidays.
Transport Co president Wuttichart Kalayanamitr said at least 130,000 people left Bangkok via Mor Chit on Saturday alone and he expected the number of passengers would peak on Tuesday at 200,000.
He said the state-run bus agency had increased the number of inter-provincial bus and van services from 5,700 to 7,100 round trips a day during the New Year holiday period which officially ends on Jan 4. The extra services could serve a maximum of 185,000 travellers per day.
However, seating in the passenger halls for both the northern and northeastern services was inadequate for such a large mass of holidaymakers and people want the Mor Chit terminal to expand its space, he added.
Mr Wuttichart also said alcohol tests were being carried out on drivers, and their overall physical readiness was being checked before trips to ensure the safety and confidence of passengers.