BANGKOK, 6 April 2012 – The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is set to announce the revocation of the 800-baht deposit to acquire an Easy Pass card by June.
EXAT governor Aiyanat Tinapai said the agency is working in collaboration with Bangkok Expressway Co ltd (BECL) to finalize the details of the cancellation process. Once the 800-baht fee is revoked, the EXAT will be put in charge of the distribution of Easy Pass cards.
If the proposal is approved by the EXAT board, the deposit is expected to be waived by this coming June.
Mr Aiyanat pointed out that terms and conditions of Easy Pass are subject to change following the deposit waiver. The changes will include the minimum amount of first top-up at 1,000 baht, and the general minimum top-up of 500 baht.
The EXAT is also planning to open more toll lanes for Easy Pass users, in order to better facilitate motorists.
According to statistics, 10,000 Easy Pass cards are issued on a monthly basis. With the deposit cancellation coming into effect later this year, a rising demand for Easy Pass cards is expected. As of 31 March 2012, there were 403,228 cards in use. The number is expected to rise to 450,000 by the end of this year.
The governor added that from April onwards, commuters can opt to make payment for Easy Pass cards via Bangkok Bank ATM machines, 7-11 shops and via Visa credit cards.
