Department of Land Transport Deputy Director-General Jongrak Kitsamrankhun presided over the opening ceremony, accompanied by Capt Boworn Phromgaewngam Deputy Director of the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).
Also present among the more than 100 participants at the auction was Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Banyat Kantha, who explained that event was the 13th time the DLT had arranged such auctions across the country, including in Phuket.
“So far these auctions have raised B260,243,498 in funds to provide assistance to victims of road accidents,” he said.
The current auction is for 301 licence plates for passenger cars of no more than seven people, he said.
“This auction has attracted interest from 384 registered bidders, with the minimum bids totaling B884,000,” he added.
Mr Jongrak pointed out that the funds also go towards staging road-safety awareness campaigns for the New Year and Songkran periods, notoriously known as the ‘Seven Days of Danger’, as well as providing assistance to people left permanently disabled by road accidents.
The first licence plate to go under the hammer today was กษ 8899, sold to Sunna Srimueang of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) for B180,000.