July 24, 2008
Bangkok - The taxi-bus (known as Songtaew in Thai) drivers asked for the transport ministry’s approval for fare hike as the diesel price reached 35 baht per litre.
Mr. Chatchai Phu-aree, president of the private taxi-bus drivers club, sent a letter to the secretary of the transport ministry to call for fare increase from 6.50 baht to 10 baht.
Diesel price rise was cited as a reason for the fare hike.
The taxi-bus drivers did not get the cheap diesel support from the government.
The so-called cheap diesel price is three baht lower than the market price.
Chatchai said it would cost more than 100,000 baht per taxi-bus if changing the engine to use the natural gas as the source of fuel.
Mr. Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Transport Minister, revealed the fare hike would be against the Central Administrative Court’s order.
The transport ministry plans to call a meeting with the taxi-bus drivers on July 29 to find a solution.
