The government on Thursday unveiled the first batch of 489 natural gas vehicles (NGV) that the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to add to its public bus fleet between now and next year.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday presided over a ceremony held at City Hall's auditorium in Din Daeng district to mark the launch of the new NGV-fuelled buses.
He described the new buses as a New Year present for the people, saying the provision of public transport is a duty of the government in every country.
He said public transport services in Thailand are better than those of several other countries, given the fact that Thailand has a sufficient number of public vehicles to serve passengers.
The premier then admitted that traffic congestion continues to remain an obstacle in the country's development of public transport, but added that the government will continue to work to improve the situation.
SCN-CHO, a joint venture between Scan Inter Plc (SCN) and Cho Thavee Plc (CHO), has so far delivered a total of 250 NGV buses to the BMTA, which has already brought them into service for passengers in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, said Thanchart Kitpipit, director of SCN.
Another 50 NGV buses will be delivered by the end of this month, while the other 189 buses will be delivered in March of next year, said Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai, president and chief executive officer of CHO.
He stressed that the SCN-CHO is ready to supply all 489 NGV buses to the BMTA as contracted.
All of the NGV buses which have been delivered to the BMTA, or are scheduled to be, are air-conditioned low-loader buses with wheelchair ramps designed to accommodate passengers with physical disabilities and the elderly, he said.
SCN-CHO is contracted to also provide the BMTA with maintenance and repair services for a period of 10 years, he added.
SCN-CHO is also interested in competing in a bid for a contract to supply rental hybrid vehicles to the BMTA, which is expected to come next year, he said.