Bangkok: The Ministry of Transport has initiated discussions with the Senate's Transport Committee to advance a "4-dimensional" strategy aimed at expediting the enactment of the Integrated Ticketing Act.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn recently convened a meeting with the Senate's Transportation Committee, led by Chairman Mr. Wuttichat Kalyanamit, alongside Mr. Chayatham Promsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, and other key executives. This meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between the executive and legislative branches to advance crucial legislation and address infrastructure challenges, prioritizing the public's benefit and safety.
The discussions focused on five urgent agendas, emphasizing the Ministry of Transport's "4 Dimensions (Land, Rail, Water, Air) 5 Missions 6 Goals" framework. The committee acknowledged the framework's clarity and expressed their willingness to act as a key mechanism in considering pending legislation, particularly the Integrated Ticketing Act. This act is anticipated to reduce transportation costs for citizens by enhancing the efficiency of the public transportation system.
In light of volatile fuel prices, the Ministry of Transport has pledged to freeze fares for buses, trains, and ferries to mitigate the impact on living costs. Support measures for transport service providers include a Cabinet-approved aid package of over 2,060 million baht, allocated to trucks, public motorcycles, taxis, vans, minibuses, songthaews, and intercity buses, to alleviate operating costs comprehensively.
To address road deterioration and associated issues, the Ministry and Parliamentary Committee agreed on implementing parallel measures, such as installing Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) technology to aid in enforcement. A pilot has already been conducted at Nong Khae Station, Saraburi Province. Additionally, a proposal was made for the Ministry to establish a central platform linking GPS data for tracking overloaded trucks, enabling legal payment of additional fees or taxes by businesses.
For public safety, agencies such as the Department of Highways and State Railway of Thailand are urged to strictly monitor large-scale construction projects. Contractors must have a traffic management plan and a "Safety Engineer" to oversee work, with the authority to suspend construction and impose penalties if regulations are violated.
The Southern Economic Corridor (Landbridge) project, spanning 89.35 kilometers, aims to reduce transportation time and costs. The Ministry of Transport is inviting private companies to design and invest in the entire construction to ease the government's financial burden, while ensuring economic benefits for the region.
Mr. Pipat emphasized the Ministry's commitment to listening to expert opinions to address shortcomings and improve operations. This aligns with the policy of creating a transportation system that is convenient, safe, punctual, affordably priced, easily accessible, and environmentally friendly, to enhance the economy and quality of life for all Thai citizens.