The confirmation came at a meeting of the committee chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (June 5).
The new service to be proposed, designated a ‘Category 4’ service operating ‘Line 8580’, will operate between Phuket International Airport and Rawai, using the bypass road to avoid traffic in Phuket Town.
The route was first approved by the committee on Oct 27, 2011, and later received endorsement from the Central Land Transport Control Board on Aug 22, 2012, said an official report of the meeting.
“This route aims to improve travel convenience for both residents and tourists in Phuket,” said the report.
However, no explanation was given as to why the service had not been introduced for more than a decade after the Central Land Transport Control Board, which approves all public transport services in the country, gave its approval.
Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Adcha Buachan told the meeting that the PLTO received from private operators “applications of interest” in operating the proposed new bus service from Feb 27 to Mar 28 this year, the official report confirmed.
However, The Phuket News has been unable to find any public notices issued by the PLTO announcing the opening of the “applications of interest”.
The proposed route of the new bus service traverses 51km, starting from the bus parking area at Phuket airport, heading south then turning onto Route 4031, then turning south onto Thepkrasattri Rd (Route 402), then continuing onto the bypass road and down Chao Fa West Rd to Rawai.
From the “applications of interest” received, the proposed bus fares will be:
- Phuket Airport to Muang Mai, Thalang Town and Tha Reua: B50
- Phuket Airport to Darasamut Intersection (near Central shopping mall): B80
- Phuket Airport to Nakok intersection (near NT office on Chao Fa West Rd in Chalong): B110
- Phuket Airport to Chalong Circle: B120
- Phuket Airport to Baan Rawai: B150
The proposed operation will use standard ‘Type 2’ buses, which are categorised by the land Transport Department as “2nd class air-conditioned buses with no more than 30 seats”, Mr Adcha said
Between eight to 10 buses will be in operation, providing a minimum of 32 trips per day (16 round trips), the report noted.
“The meeting concluded with unanimous agreement to request permission for the operation of this new bus route, which is expected to significantly enhance the transportation infrastructure in Phuket Province,” the report concluded.
PLTO Chief Mr Adcha yesterday, by no small coincidence, also attended a meeting at the Dara Hotel to meet with what the PLTO in its announcement yesterday described as “the first small group meeting of the data analysis study project regarding traveling by public transport”.
The meeting was organised by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) and chaired by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.