Thailand's taxi fares initially rise by 8%

BANGKOK, December 12 (TNA) - Thailand's taxi fares have been approved to increase by 8 per cent on conditions that taxi meters showing the current fares are to be adjusted and stickers are attached certifying the cabs have been checked thoroughly. Thai Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong told journalists on Friday that he has approved the increased taxi fares, while another five per cent rise should be approved after a post six-month evaluation of the first increase. Under the new approved rates, which were already published in the Royal Gazette, taxi fare for the first kilometre is set at 35 baht, but it will then increase at 5.50 baht per every kilometre for distance not exceeding 10 kilometres and will further increase for farther distances. For distance of over 80 kilometres, the new cab fare is 10.50 baht per kilometre. In the case of traffic jam and taxis cannot move over six kilometres per hour, the fare is at two baht per minute. An extra 50 baht will be charged to passengers travelling to Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi International Airports. Touching on a request by private buses operating under the state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for their fare hike by another two baht, the transport minister said he has assigned his deputy, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, to negotiate with the private bus operators, with a conclusion expected by January 2015. (TNA)