Bangkok: The Ministry of Transport is providing relief to the transport sector amidst the energy crisis. Pipat rushes to revive the transportation sector! He unveils a plan to help reduce fuel costs, support operators, and freeze fares, aiming to alleviate the burden of living costs for the public amidst the energy crisis.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, revealed the approach to addressing the rising fuel price crisis, stating that there are urgent policies to assist both transport operators and passengers to ensure the continued operation of public transportation without impacting people's finances. He highlighted three main measures: compensation for drivers and protection of passengers.
Mr. Pipat stated that the Ministry of Transport has prepared proactive measures to reduce costs and increase liquidity in the transportation sector, as follows:
1. Measures for "Fuel Price Difference Compensation": The Ministry is preparing to propose targeted assistance measures to compensate for fuel costs for four main groups of service providers, categorized as follows:
- 287,175 non-regularly scheduled trucks (10 wheels or more) will receive a fuel subsidy of 6 baht/liter.
- Large public buses (Buses Transport Company/Joint Ventures) in categories 2 and 3, totaling 11,395 vehicles, receive a fuel subsidy of 4 baht/liter.
- Minibuses (shared taxis/vans), Category 4: 19,414 vehicles, supported at 300 baht/vehicle/day.
- 114,653 motorcycle taxis/riders; supported with 300 baht/vehicle/month.
This support measure will begin from April 1st to April 30th, 2026, and compensation will be calculated based on actual usage through GPS and the application, ensuring assistance reaches drivers directly.
2. Freeze fares by instructing the Department of Land Transport and related agencies to "freeze fares" for all types of public transport at their current level for as long as possible, in order to avoid burdening the public with the cost of living. Cooperation from private operators is also requested to help weather this crisis.
3. Unlocking Oil Reserves and Supporting B20 Diesel to Prevent Shortages: The Ministry has coordinated efforts to reduce the legally mandated oil reserve ratio, increasing the amount of oil circulating in the system. Furthermore, it is preparing to launch a special-priced B20 diesel fuel for the transportation sector, which will be approximately 5 baht per liter cheaper than regular diesel, thereby reducing operating costs.
Mr. Pipat added that, "We understand the difficulties faced by service providers in bearing the higher fuel costs, but at the same time, we must protect passengers from being affected by fare increases. Therefore, the measures we have implemented focus on reducing costs at the source, especially by establishing special fuel stations for public transport vehicles in every province. This ensures that buses have sufficient fuel and can operate continuously, particularly during the upcoming travel season."
Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport has established a War Room to closely monitor the fuel price situation and its impact on transportation costs. If any operator is found to be taking advantage of the situation by raising prices beyond the legal limit, the maximum penalty will be imposed immediately. For more information, please contact the Department of Land Transport hotline at 1584.