The first day of meter-tuning for taxis proceeded with some glitches yesterday with only 1,000 taxis having the meter devices tweaked to comply with new fares.
Taxi drivers queue up to have meter devices inspected and sealed at a cargo terminal inside Don Mueang airport before they can charge a new fare rate that went into effect on Dec 13. Apichit Jinakul
Teerapong Rodprasert, chief of the Department of Land Transport (DLT), said insufficient staff were on hand to inspect and seal the meters, so only 1,000 vehicles had their devices adjusted and can start charging the new rate that went into effect on Dec 13.
Under the plan, between 4,000-5,000 vehicles should have the meter devices inspected and sealed on a daily basis.
Mr Teerapong said he asked the companies which were authorised to adjust the meters to increase staff to meet demand.
About 85,000 cabs ply the streets in Bangkok. Of this number, 60,000 have passed the DLT's standard checks and are ready to have their devices adjusted and sealed.
Mr Teerapong said all taxis should be ready to start charging the new fare next month. "As of noon, 600 cabs have had the devices adjusted. I think about 1,000 taxis should get it done on the first day. We will have the whole fleet done by next month," he said.
Vehicles which have passed inspection will have a special sticker to show they can charge the new fare rate and the meters will be sealed to prevent tampering.
Under the new rate, passengers will be charged 35 baht for the first kilometre, and 5.50 baht more for every kilometre after that during the 1st -10th kilometres.
They will be charged 6.50 baht for every kilometre after the 10km mark, up to 20km. In traffic jams where taxis move at less than six kilometres an hour, passengers will be charged 2 baht per minute.
The Transport Ministry has approved the first phase of a fare increase which stipulates an increase of 8%. Another 5% will be added in the second phase of the fare rise in six months.
Chamras Boonprasarn, a cab driver, said he is satisfied with the new rate, which he expects will boost his daily income by 200 baht.
"But I think passengers will select the cabs that have not had meters adjusted first. When all taxis use the same fare rate, their income should pick up," he said.