The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will begin using 100 natural gas for vehicle (NGV) buses Tuesday on five routes in the capital, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith says.
The buses are part of a 4.26-billion-baht procurement deal to deliver 489 NGV buses to the BMTA by June. The deal was won by a joint venture between Scan Inter Plc and Cho Thavee Plc last December.
Talks on the bus procurement deal began in 2006.
"These new buses are part of the BMTA's revival plan," he said. "Many of the older buses have become worn out from overuse."
"The new buses are consistent with our overall policy to establish seamless, environmentally friendly transport for the public," he added.
Prayoon Choygeo, the BMTA's deputy director for bus operations, said the close-to-zero-emission NGV buses will also offer lower fuel costs, equivalent to about half of the authority's diesel-fuelled buses.
Costs currently run at 3,300 baht for a tank of diesel that lasts for up to 280km. This contrasts with 1,700 baht to power an NGV bus for 260km, he added.
The new buses will offer full accessibility for the elderly and disabled, he said.
Each of the NGV buses features a handicapped space reserved for a maximum of two wheelchair-bound passengers, including hooks that fasten passengers' wheelchairs into place.
Mr Prayoon said conductors will be held responsible for this.
The buses also feature automated "kneeling" systems that enable the vehicle to lower itself to one side to draw level with a ramp or other surface.
Manually folded ramps for wheelchair-bound passengers are available on the middle doors of each bus.
Test runs for a small portion of the buses began on March 14. According to the BMTA, all 100 of those delivered will be used on five routes of the authority's Operations Area Number Five.
The area includes buses under the BMTA's Phra Pradaeng garage in Samut Prakan, Tharathip garage in Bang Mot and Samae Dam garage in Bang Khunthian.
So far, the routes include bus numbers 20, 21, 105, 138 and 140.
The next lot of 100 buses are due to be delivered to the BMTA by the end of next month, with another 100 due by May.
The last lot of 189 buses must arrive by June 25, according to the BMTA's contract with Scan Inter and Cho Thavee.
The BMTA reports state the complete set of 489 NGV buses will be deployed in 25 routes across Bangkok and its metropolitan area.
Separately, Mr Arkhom revealed Monday he has approved a formal resignation letter from BMTA president Nuttachat Charuchinda, effective at the end of this month.
He said the current authority chief "was completely within his rights to resign".
Mr Nuttachat had already fulfilled his duty from the government to push for a procurement deal for the NGV buses, he added.
"We will commission an acting chief for the BMTA in the absence of the authority's president," Mr Arkhom said.
Mr Nuttachat confirmed his resignation request Monday, saying he had "already settled" issues proposed by the BMTA board.
They included the establishment of the BMTA's revival plan to address its debt -- now worth over 100 billion baht -- a successful procurement deal for new NGV buses, a request for a new BMTA director, and a plan to deal with unsettled debt issues regarding employees, he said.
Mr Nuttachat denied all rumours over a conflict with members of the BMTA board.