Rapid bus route gets nod

Rapid bus route gets nod.

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) can run the 2.7-billion-baht Bangkok Rapid Transit (BRT) service from Chong Nonsi to the

Bangkok bridge, cabinet decided yesterday. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the rapid bus project would help speed the flow of traffic.

''The 16.5-km route is a pilot project. More routes will come before us for a decision,'' Gen Surayud said after the meeting.

The project, originally planned for launch in October 2005, was postponed during the tenure of the deposed Thaksin Shinawatra government.

The project had two primary routes _ the Chong Nonsi-Bangkok Bridge and the 19.5-km Nawamin-Kasetsart routes.

But the government only gave the go-ahead for the Chong Nonsi-Bangkok Bridge route because a special bus lane for the other route has not

yet been completed, said government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalap.

He said the Transport Ministry had no plans to build the rapid bus lane anytime soon as it feared the project would only worsen traffic

congestion on Phaholyothin road, where traffic is always bad.

The approved BRT route starts from Surawong road, heads to Narathiwat Ratchanakarin and Rama III roads, then crosses the Chao Phraya

river at Rama III bridge, and ends at Ratchaphruek intersection. Commuters will be able to board the bus at 17 stops. Rapid buses will be

allowed to pass through red lights at intersections to speed up the journey.

Bangkok Post
Thursday January 04, 2007