The Thai government intends to implement a congestion charge of 40-50 baht for motorists entering central Bangkok streets. This measure aims to fund a flat 20-baht fare for all electric rail lines throughout Greater Bangkok.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that the charge for driving would mirror those already successful in seven UK cities, including London, proposing an initial rate of 40-50 baht for the first five years.
Since 1998, Singapore has utilized electronic road pricing. Gantry-mounted readers scan vehicle tags and charge fees based on the distance traveled, current traffic conditions, and other variables, ranging from S$1 to S$6 (25 to 150 baht).
Mr. Suriya mentioned that the congestion charge might apply to streets aligned with electric rail routes, such as Ratchadaphisek, Silom, and Sukhumvit roads, which are frequented by roughly 700,000 vehicles each day.
He suggested that implementing this charge could reduce daily vehicle traffic on these roads to 600,000, potentially generating about 10 billion baht annually in fees.
To achieve a uniform 20-baht fare across all networks, Mr. Suriya recommended that the government acquire existing concessions, allowing operators to continue managing their systems.
He estimated the buyback of these concessions could cost around 200 billion baht, funded by investors and supported by the congestion charge revenue.
Mr. Suriya announced plans to engage a consultancy to thoroughly assess the proposal, with findings expected by mid-2025.
He also noted that the congestion fee could motivate more people to switch to public transportation and help lessen air pollution in Bangkok.
The flat fare of 20 baht was initially introduced on segments of the Red Line between Bang Sue-Rangsit and Bang Sue-Taling Chan, as well as the Taopoon-Bang Yai stretch of the Purple Line starting October 16, 2023.
Currently, fares vary from 14 to 62 baht, depending on the rail operator and the length of the journey.