New NGV buses to start operating later this month

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (TNA) – The first batch of Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) air-conditioned buses has arrived in Thailand and will start operation for the public members on Dec 21, according to Thai government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. Lt Gen Sansern said the first lot of 100 buses has arrived at Laem Chabang port in the eastern province of Chon Buri while the remainder of 389 buses will be delivered by Dec 29, following a long delay in the procurement process. Lt Gen Sansern said the first 100 NGV buses will officially start operating on Dec 21. Five of them will provide transport services for people travelling around Sanam Luang and the rest will provide services on 22 other routes in Bangkok. He added that the government intended to offer the new buses to the public as a New Year gift, and hoped that it would encourage more people to use public transport. The bus procurement process was initiated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) in 2002 but had been delayed due to transparency concerns. The spokesman said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was happy that the government could manage to make this happen. The prime minister hoped that the new buses would help improve the quality of life of people, particularly low-inocme earners.(TNA)