PUBLISHED : 2 Nov 2025 at 05:20

Commuters queue to buy tickets at Khu Khot station in Pathum Thani province in January 2024. Pattarapong Chatpattarasill

The Consumer Council of Thailand has submitted a petition to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC), opposing the fare increase on the BTS Green Line extensions, where fares have risen from a flat rate of 15 baht to a distance-based rate ranging from 17 to 45 baht.

The petition was received by Netiphum Mingrujiralai, deputy chair of the BMC, on behalf of Wiphut Sriwaurai, the chair. The council pledged to forward the complaint to various committees and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) for further discussion.

The new fare structure, which took effect on Saturday, affects three key extension segments: Mo Chit–Khu Khot, Bang Chak–Samut Prakan and Pho Nimit–Bang Wa.

Passengers travelling between these routes will now pay between 17 and 45 baht depending on distance, or up to 65 baht per trip if crossing between the main concession line and extensions.

Consumer representatives warned that over 380,000 commuters per day, particularly suburban workers travelling into the city, will be affected. They said many will face up to a 200% increase – or three times their previous extension fares.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the rise was necessary as the BMA had been absorbing losses of more than 6 billion baht per year from maintaining the 15-baht fare across the extensions.

He said the BMA spends roughly 8 billion baht annually on operating costs, while collecting only about 2 billion baht in revenue. “The city cannot continue using taxpayers’ money to cover such deficits,” Mr Chadchart said.

He said the new fare rates are not related to the city’s outstanding debt to its private concessionaire but are instead a structural reform intended to align fares with real costs.