Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt revealed earlier today that BTS train fares may soon rise, with the maximum price expected to increase from 47 baht to 65 baht.
The move, he said, is necessary to help offset the growing financial losses borne by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in keeping fares affordable for commuters.
Chadchart explained that the BMA currently pays BTS around 8 billion baht each year to operate the Green Line service, yet ticket revenues bring in only about 2 billion baht annually.
This leaves the city with a 6 billion baht deficit that must be covered through taxpayer-funded reserves.
He argued that using these reserve funds to subsidize fares is unfair to residents who rarely or never use the Green Line, noting that the administration must ensure fairness for all Bangkok taxpayers.
To address this, the governor said the city is considering adjusting the fare cap to 65 baht across the entire line to better reflect actual operating costs. However, he added that fares for shorter trips, currently starting at 17 baht, could be reduced.
Chadchart also clarified that fare adjustments are separate from the BMA’s outstanding debt to BTS. He confirmed that the city will settle 32 billion baht of this debt by the end of the month, as ordered by the Central Administrative Court.
Afterward, about 6 billion baht will remain in the city’s reserve fund, which he stressed must be used carefully and responsibly.
Meanwhile, the Anutin administration has suspended the Pheu Thai-led government’s plan to cap train fares across Bangkok and its suburban routes at a flat rate of 20 baht per trip, regardless of distance.
