Commuters in Thailand enjoy extended free-rides on public services

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - People in Thailand now enjoy their free rides on public buses and trains for another six months, thanks to a latest Cabinet resolution. Thai Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists on May 10 of the update, as proposed by the Ministry of Transport. The spokesman said the free-ride services on non-air conditioned buses in Greater Bangkok and economy-classed trains, extended from May 1 to October 31, 2016, is aimed to help relieve people's costs of living. The spokesman stated that the government will spend a 2.26-billion baht- budget on compensating the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). According to the spokesman, a total of 800 BMTA buses in 73 routes, along with economy-classed inter-provincial and 152 normal short-hauled trains, thus, offer their free services to the public daily during the period. Besides, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has ordered agencies concerned for their quick studies on official assistance to be specially offered to targeted low income earners in the country. (TNA)