Passenger buses in Greater Bangkok will cover more but shorter routes as they will function as feeders to connect to other modes of transport, Deputy Transport Minister Pichit Akrathit said on Thursday.
After discussing Bangkok bus reform with the Land Transport Department, the deputy minister said that passenger buses would become feeders for other modes of public transport like trains and boats.
To that effect, the number of bus routes in Greater Bangkok will increase by about 20% from 202 to 269 to expand the coverage. That would raise the combined distances of bus routes from 6,437 kilometres to 7,833 kilometres, he said.
However, the distance of each route would be shortened, but that was for commuter convenience, Mr Pichit said.
The Land Transport Department will take over Bangkok bus regulation from the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority which will continue only as an operator.
Under the department's bus reform plans, Bangkok bus concessions will be cut from 10 years to seven years in the next two years, he said.
The service time of seven years would ensure public transport vehicles remained in good and safe condition for passengers, he added. Passenger vans would be subject to the same rule.