Under this plan, the agency will purchase both non-air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses, priced at Bt3 and Bt4 million each, respectively (USD 98,400 – 131,200). The Nation reported that CNG buses will reduce BMTA’s fuel cost from Bt200 million to Bt100 million (USD 6,560,000 to 3,280,000) monthly.
The Transport Ministry claims that the deal would make the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority profitable by 2014 involving 266 million baht (USD 8,730,000). Chadchart Sittipunt argued that it is more cost-effective to purchase than to lease, as the BMTA is currently facing a shortage of serviceable buses.
“Outright purchase is more worthwhile than hire-purchases, as because of hire-purchases BMTA would run out of buses when the contracts end. This is the problem that the agency is facing,” he explained.
The minister also recalled that the State Enterprise Policy Office, an agency of the Finance Ministry which oversees state enterprises, had approved the acquisition of these buses last year, the Bangkok Post has published today.
