BMTA labour union head Weerapong Wongwaen said that the reform plan had the input of many meetings with related agencies, but the union was not invited to participate in any of them. The plan would see the number of bus routes increase from 202 to 269 with the total distance covered hiked from 6,437 kilometres to 7,833 kilometres. The lack of union participation has many worried that the reform would be done in haste, without transparency and would benefit only certain private investors. The bus reform plan includes works to re-organise bus routes, set up a body to regulate bus services, promote service potential among bus operators and address bus infrastructure management. Meanwhile, Department of Land Transport (DLT) chief Sanit Phromwong affirmed the new bus route concession bidding for 269 bus routes would be transparent and free from any collusion that would allow certain investors to monopolise bus services.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 07, 2017 08:37 UTC