Congestion pricing in Bangkok

In October 2024, Thailand's Ministry of Transport announced plans to implement congestion pricing on drivers entering roads in inner Bangkok.[1][2][3] Bangkok is among the most congested cities in the world, with navigation-device maker TomTom NV's 2019 global congestion index ranking it 11th.[4] In 2023, Bangkok was ranked 46th on the global congestion index.[5] The city also experiences high levels of air pollution.[5]

Early plans

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In 1971, the World Bank-funded Bangkok Transportation Study proposed restriction on vehicle usage and ownership, but was not implemented.[6]

This fee was most recently proposed in 2022, following a pre-feasibility study that lasted from 2019 to 2022 in conjunction with German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and Thai transport authorities.[7][8][9] The study proposed charging fees ranging from 50 to 120 baht across various city zones.[7]

Current proposal

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Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit proposed a 40-50 baht congestion charge to fund a 20 baht maximum flat fare for all electric rail lines in the greater Bangkok region.[1][10] Juangroongruangkit suggested the pricing scheme would be modeled after successful programs in other cities, including London.[1] Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt announced his support for the proposal, and advocated for an expansion of the city's rail and bus network.[11] The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) is analyzing similar schemes in other cities.[12]

The charge is planned for roads with electric rail lines, including Sukhumvit, Silom, and Ratchadaphisek roads.[1] The ministry plans to spend six months to a year to conduct a study of the plan, expected to be completed by mid-2025.[1][13][14]

Opposition

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The People's Party, Thailand's main opposition party, opposes the government's congestion pricing plan, advocating instead for prioritizing building a comprehensive public transport network.[15] People's Party MP Surachet Praweewongwut argued that argued that the current transport system is not adequate in terms of convicing motorists to switch to transit.[15]

On 24 October 2024, People's Party MP for Bangkok Suphanat Meenchainan suggested the government should prioritize public bus networks, rather than congestion fees that would benefit private train operators.[16] He also questioned if the Ministry of Transport would be able to reform the mass transit system within the promised six months.[16] Deputy Minister of Transport Surapong Piyachote responded that the ministry is working to increase accountability, adding the fee would not benefit investors or businesses.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "B40-50 congestion charge on inner-Bangkok streets". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  2. ^ Thai PBS (2024-10-18). หลากมุมมอง เก็บค่าธรรมเนียมเข้าเมือง 50 บาท/คัน | ชั่วโมงข่าว เสาร์ - อาทิตย์ | 19 ต.ค. 67. Retrieved 2024-10-20 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "IN FOCUS: How Southeast Asian cities lack 'political will' to fix notorious traffic jams". CNA. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  4. ^ "We're Running Out of Road". Bloomberg.com. 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  5. ^ a b "Thailand Eyes Congestion Fee to Cut Bangkok Pollution, Traffic". Bloomberg.com. 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  6. ^ Ayaragarnchanakul, Eva; Creutzig, Felix (March 2022). "Bangkok's locked-in traffic jam: Price congestion or regulate parking?". Case Studies on Transport Policy. 10 (1): 365–378. doi:10.1016/j.cstp.2021.12.016.
  7. ^ a b "Bangkok Considers Asking Drivers to Pay as Traffic Roars Back". Bloomberg.com. 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. ^ "Bangkok 'congestion charge' in pipeline as traffic study nears completion". nationthailand. 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  9. ^ "All eyes on Bangkok congestion charge plan". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  10. ^ "เปิดมุมการเก็บค่าธรรมเนียมรถติดในเมือง ช่วยพัฒนาคุณภาพชีวิต". posttoday (in Thai). 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  11. ^ "Congestion charge for Bangkok gets governor Chadchart's nod". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  12. ^ "Can a Bangkok congestion charge achieve the desired effects?". nationthailand. 2024-10-21. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  13. ^ "Bangkok motorists may face congestion fee". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  14. ^ "Study on congestion tax to take six months to a year: Suriya". nationthailand. 2024-10-22. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  15. ^ a b "People's Party opposes govt's Bangkok congestion fee plan". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  16. ^ a b c "Minister defends Bangkok congestion fee plan". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-25.


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