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Thailand to Beef Up Toll Auto-payment |
| Source: |
futuregov.asia |
| Source Date: |
Friday, August 10, 2012 |
| Focus: |
Electronic and Mobile Government, Citizen Engagement, Internet Governance
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| Country: |
Thailand |
| Created: |
Aug 14, 2012 |
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Following the popularity of ‘Easy Pass’ card- a pre-paid card for expressway users in Bangkok, Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (ETA) under Ministry of Transport will purchase an additional of 70,000 cards this week, and build four more automatic toll booths on strategic highways.
The ETA has also prepared THB 100 million (US$ 3.2 million) from the next fiscal budget to procure more cards and install six more automatic toll booths in 2013, said ETA Governor Aiyanat Tinapai.
“Easy Pass scheme helps reduce traffic congestion at the toll booths, the queue has been shortened from one kilometre to 0.5 kilometre only, especially during rush hour,” said Tinapai.
ETA’s Director of E-Business Services Division Thitipan Panichprasatsin said that the ETA has cancelled the deposit when people buying the cards since July 14, resulting in the drastic increase of demand.
“Previously, about 300-400 units of Easy Pass cards were sold daily. Now we are selling 1400 -1500 per day,” he added.
There are 450,000 Easy Card members now, and the increased usage of the cards is encouraged to help solve traffic problem, Panichprasatsin said.
The ETA is testing high speed clearance at the automatic toll booths. The tryout speed is 50 kilometre per hour. Currently, vehicles have to reduce their speed to not greater than 30 kilometres per hour while passing through the booth.
“We are carefully testing the high speed passage for safety before implementing it, as accident may easily occur when the cars pass through the narrow channels. If an accident really happens there, it will be severe,” he added.
The ETA is also seeking a collaboration to launch a common card to integrate Easy Pass and M-Pass to be a single system. M-Pass is a pre-paid card scheme used for motorways managed by Department of Highways, Ministry of Transport.
“We are now studying the possibility and ways to merge the two systems especially that of the financial system,” he said and explained that Easy Pass fee includes tax while M-pass is without tax.
The ETA may invite the Comptroller General’s Department to settle this issue before starting the new system.
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Thailand to Beef Up Toll Auto-payment Following the popularity of ‘Easy Pass’ card- a pre-paid card for expressway users in Bangkok Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand ETA under Ministry of Transport will purchase an additional of 70,000 cards this week and build four more automatic toll booths on strategic highways
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