The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to acquire a fleet of 2,188 buses to appease city commuters, following outrage over its bus fare hike.
But commuters will have to wait for about a year as the first batch of 700 buses will be in service around the middle of 2020, acting BMTA governor Prayun Chuaikaeo said on Wednesday.
Others, including more high-tech and environmentally friendly electric vehicles, will follow within the next three years.
"We promise that commuters will experience better service," Mr Prayun said.
The agency will ask the BMTA board on May 23 to approve 7 billion baht for leasing 400 hybrid buses, fuelled by both diesel and electricity, and 300 natural gas vehicle (NGV) buses. These buses will be in service for seven years.
All 700 buses must be delivered within 10 months after lease contracts are signed, and in service in 2020.
The agency plans to buy 1,453 hybrid buses at a cost of 11.6 billion baht, Mr Prayun said, adding his agency will call bidding next year and fix a delivery deadline in 2022.
The agency also will spend 571 million baht to buy 35 electric buses to reduce air pollution. "These electric buses will only run in inner city areas which are crowded with commuters and cars," he said.
The BMTA has been criticised after the recent fare increase for ordinary and air-conditioned buses by between 1.5 to 2 baht. Critics said the fare hike did not come with improved services and would spoil the state plan to spur people to travel in the mass transit system.
He insisted the BMTA is heavily in debt and needs to boost the rates, which had remained unchanged for seven years.
The acting governor is also optimistic about the agency's financial situation. The fare rise will bring profit to the BMTA within five years, he said.
For its debts of 100 billion baht, the agency suggested the could help handle the burden.