Cab passengers to be charged new fare in 10 days

BANGKOK, December 13 (TNA) – The Thai Land Transport Department expects a first batch of taxis in Bangkok to begin charging new fare for their service within 10 days. Although taxi drivers are allowed to increase their fare by eight percent from Saturday, Jirut Visaljit, deputy director-general of the department, said they have to first have their meter adjusted and their vehicle inspected by the department. The Department has assigned Mahanakorn University of Technology to check taximeters to ensure they meet required standards, he said, adding that there are 17 models of meters manufactured by 10 companies. According to Jirut, the first batch of taxis should start charging the new fare within the next 10 days. At present, there are 110,000 registered taxis in Bangkok and the department can provide inspection to some 3,000 taxis a day so the new fare should fully come into effect in 40 days. Under the new rate, fare is at 35 baht for 0-1 kilometer, 5.50 baht each for 1-10 kilometers. For distance of over 80 kilometres, the fare will increase by 10.50 baht per kilometer. In the case of traffic jam and taxis stops moving or travelling at the speed of less than 6 kilometres per hour, the fare is at 2 baht per minute. An extra of 50 baht will be charged to passenger travelling to Don Mueang Airport or Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong had said earlier that he had given his approval for the fare to initially increase by eight per cent and another five per cent would be given after an evaluation is made six months after the initial increase. (TNA)