BANGKOK, Dec 25 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the setting up of centres nationwide to reduce road accidents as well as to strictly monitor travellers during next week’s New Year’s celebrations.
Inaugurating the campaign to reduce traffic accidents for the New Year holidays, Ms Yingluck on Wednesday called on all ministries to assemble personnel to help monitor road accidents from the centres and facilitate both Thai and foreign travellers at the same time.
The premier said she asked the army to dispatch personnel to facilitate Thai and international travellers, while personnel from the Energy Ministry are requested to stockpile enough gas and arrange rest areas for those who plan to return home to celebrate New Year.
The Ministry of Public Health has, meanwhile, been instructed to ready their emergency health units and health-related agencies for any unexpected incidents.
The Ministry of Transport has been asked to prepare for increased demands on public transport and publicise travel-related information on the coming weekend and at the end of the holidays on January 4-5.
More than 2,250 temporary service stations will also be set up nationwide, while drivers will get free use of motorway Routes 7 and 9 starting from Friday at 4pm through January 3 as well as tollfree use of the Burapha Withi Expressway.
Free train service will be provided for those travelling north and south as well as shuttle buses from Mo Chit bus terminal to Mo Chit and Victory Monument BTS Skytrain Stations and Chatuchak Metro Station.
