
The government of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come under fire from both opposition parties and the public for its handling of the PM2.5 air pollution crisis, particularly in Bangkok. During her attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the PM issued directives online urging ministries to urgently address the issue.
In a swift response, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced a bold policy: free public transport on BTS and MRT trains, as well as Bangkok Mass Transit Authority buses, for seven days from Jan 25.
This initiative, which aims to mitigate the PM2.5 crisis, is estimated to cost the government 140 million baht, to be drawn from the central budget to compensate private operators for lost revenue.
While this policy may appear like a proactive solution, it is in reality a poorly thought-out and wasteful measure that fails to address the root causes of the crisis.
The notion that offering free public transport will significantly reduce private vehicle use and so improve air quality is neither grounded in logic nor supported by evidence.
The assumption that motorists will switch to free public transport is unrealistic, given Bangkok's limited network coverage, poor bus service standards and unreliable schedules. Convenience, connectivity and necessity, not ticket price, drive transport choices.
While free public transport for seven days undoubtedly benefits existing commuters, it does little to alleviate the crisis. Not surprisingly, air quality has shown no significant improvement since the policy's implementation.
The marginal improvement expected in the coming days will result from changing weather patterns, including stronger winds dispersing pollutants, rather than any government intervention.
This policy exemplifies a glaring misuse of taxpayer money. At least 140 million baht will be spent on a measure that has no impact on reducing air pollution.
As biologist Jessada Denduangboripant of Chulalongkorn University pointed out in a social media post, these funds could have been better spent buying tens of thousands of air purifiers for schools, benefiting children affected by toxic air.
He also emphasised that offering free public transport is unlikely to change the behaviour of car users. Those who rely on private vehicles do so because of convenience or necessity, not financial constraints.
The policy appears to be more of a reactionary move to satisfy the PM's directive than a genuine attempt to solve the PM2.5 problem. It serves as a public relations stunt highlighting the government's responsiveness rather than delivering results. While swift action may create a perception of efficiency, such measures must also be evaluated for their actual outcomes.
There would be no issue if any PR measures devised by the government were funded with its own money. Using taxpayers' money on such inefficient and pointless measures is unjustifiable.
The government must abandon this flawed policy to prevent further misuse of taxpayers' money. Tackling Bangkok's PM2.5 crisis demands a holistic approach, including stricter emission regulations, investments in clean energy, improved urban planning and upgraded public transport infrastructure and services.
The public has the right to expect accountability from its leaders, not policies that waste resources on ineffective and short-sighted measures.