Siripong Eyes Extension of Relief for Seven Transport Sectors, Discusses with Finance Ministry on Fare Controls
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong is negotiating with the Finance Ministry to extend relief measures for seven transport sectors facing rising operating costs, while efforts to cap fare increases at 10 percent have already shown success.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angsukulkiarti revealed ongoing discussions with the Finance Ministry to identify relief measures for seven transport operator groups including minibuses, trucks, buses, taxis, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks experiencing hardship from economic conditions and elevated operating costs.
The Transport Ministry initially reported results from the 'DLT Ready Support' program, which helped mitigate impacts from rising fuel prices for transport operators registered with the Department of Land Transport. The program covers buses, trucks, taxis, and hired motorcycles, and has received positive feedback from both the private sector and operators, which is considered a positive signal.
Siripong explained that the DLT Ready Support measure ran from April 20 to May 31, 2025, for 42 days with assistance rates paid as lump sums based on vehicle type: 840-5,040 baht per vehicle or 2 baht per kilometer, capped at 500-700 baht per day for Grade 2-3 buses. Trucks with fewer than 10 axles with a minimum distance of 2,500 kilometers receive 3,000 baht per vehicle, while trucks with 10 or more axles with a minimum distance of 4,000 kilometers receive 6,000 baht per vehicle. Registered taxis with a minimum distance of 2,500 kilometers receive 5,040 baht per vehicle, and public motorcycles receive 840 baht per vehicle.
Simultaneously, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprayat has instructed the Transport Ministry to consider remaining budget allocations for additional measures to cap fares and prevent fare index increases. Originally, the fare index was projected to increase by 20 percent, but through the Department of Transport's efforts, the index has been capped at 10 percent, a satisfactory result that pleased the Finance Ministry.
The additional measures the Finance Ministry requested the Transport Ministry to consider do not include the ministry's push for clean energy transition to enhance competitiveness. However, this will be discussed with the Finance Ministry again within the next week, with the clean energy transition measures currently only being acknowledged as a guideline, which the Finance Ministry neither objected to nor explicitly approved.
