The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will launch its own boat service on the city's major canals starting in June this year, deputy governor Amorn Kijchawengkul said.
Mr Amorn said the new service will give Bangkok boat commuters an option to the current service provided by only one company along Khlong Saen Saep.
He said because of political implications only one company had permission to operate boat services on Khlong Saen Saep. Its operating licence was issued by the Marine Department, and the BMA had no part in the selection process.
To improve safety and give Bangkokians a choice, the BMA had hired Krungthep Thanakhom, its business arm, to build 14 passenger boats at a budgeted cost of 40 million baht, Mr Amorn said.
One boat had already been completed and was making trial runs on Khlong Phasi Charoen, so any defects could be fixed or needed improvements made to the 14 boats to be put in service.
All boats were expected to be complete and go into full service on major canals in June, Mr Amorn said.
Nath Jabjai, deputy director-general of the Marine Department, said 60,000 - 70,000 people commute by boat along Khlong Saen Saep each day.
He said the Marine Department had deployed extra safety inspectors in the wake of the March 5 explosion onboard a gas-fuelled passenger boat at a pier on Khlong Saen Saep that injured about 67 passengers.