BANGKOK, 14 May 2012 – The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has announced that the taxi fare will not yet be raised at this time as the government has agreed to delay the increase of NGV and LPG prices for three months.
Deputy Director General of the DLT Jirut Wisarnjit revealed after a meeting of the National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong, that the prices of NGV and LPG will not be adjusted until the next 3 months.
The postponement of the price increase is in accordance with a previous proposal by the Energy Policy Administration Committee (EPAC).
As a result, there will be no need for taxi operators to raise their fares for the time being, and the current starting rate will be kept at 30 baht.
Mr. Jirut added, however, that while the gas prices are being maintained, a study will be conducted by the Energy Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, to gauge the impact the measure would have on transport operators. He further said that if the impact is significant, price adjustments for both gases will be considered.
Meanwhile, truck companies have voiced their concerns over the insufficient number of NGV stations in the northeastern part of the country and called on the government and PTT Plc to open more service stations in the area. PTT presently has a total of 467 NGV stations across the country and is reportedly planning to raise the number to 500 within this year.
