Taxi fare hike in Bangkok on Saturday

Starting on Saturday, passengers will have to pay higher taxi fares in the Bangkok area, with the Transport Ministry approving an increase of 8%, later rising to 13%.

A taxi collects two passengers on a street in Bangkok. Cab fares will rise from Saturday, Dec 13. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

The 35-baht flagfall remains unchanged.

Fare meters must be officially adjusted before the driver can charge the new rates.

The rise was originally scheduled to take effect on Dec 1, but was postponed to Dec 13 because 85% of cabs were required to still first pass inspection at the Land Transport Ministry.

Transport Minister Prajin Juntong signed an order on Dec 4 voiding the June 18, 2008 announcement on taxi-meter fares, and approved the hike. Fares for cabs carrying up to seven passengers are increased to reflect actual costs.

There are two phases of the increase.

In the first six months, starting on Saturday, the rise is limited to 8%. After this period, the ministry will allow for increases to a maximum of 13% above the current fare after taxi services are further evaluated.

The distance calculated for the new fares was reduced to every 10 kilometres, from 12 kilometres. The flagfall and the first kilometre is capped at the same rate of 35 baht.

Under the new rate, taxi fares are 35 baht for 0-1 km, 5.50 baht for each of the next 10th kilometres, 6.50 baht each for the 10th to 20th kilometres, 7.50 baht each for the 20th to 40th kilometres, 8 baht each for the 40th to 60th kilometre, 9 baht each for the 60th to 80th kilometres and 10.50 baht each above 80 kilometres.

In the event a taxi is caught in a traffic jam and is forced to stop or move at less than 6 kilometres per hour, there is an increase of 50 satang from the previous 1.50 baht to 2 baht per minute.

Passengers will have to pay a surcharge of 20 baht if they use taxi services from a call centre, and 50 baht surcharge when catching a cab at designated areas at Don Mueang Airport or Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Jirut Wisarnjit, deputy chief of the Department of Land Transport, confirmed the fare hike had been published in the Royal Gazette and was effective from Dec 13.

About 30,000 of the 70-80,000 taxis in the Bangkok area had already passed condition checks, he said.

However, taxis would not be able to charge the new fares until their meters were adjusted and certified by the department.

This would happen gradually over the next week and all cabs would be using the higher fares from Dec 20, said Mr Jirut.

The department is issuing stickers to taxis that pass the tests, he said.