Phuket Pink Network to Lift Public Transport Offerings
By Sert Tongdee
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A MAJOR revamp is being suggested that would see Phuket's ''pinkie buses'' expand to give parts of Phuket an efficient public transport network. The routes could include Patong to Phuket City.
The idea depends on the current private bus contractors, who would need to hand over to the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, which runs Phuket City's existing successful ''pinkie bus'' service.
Organisation chief executive, Paiboon Upatising, told a meeting about public transport this week that the PPAO was ''happy to take over'' any Phuket private bus services where contractors wished to surrender the role.
Specifically mentioned at the meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Wirawat Janpen, were the Patong-Phuket City, Rawai-Phuket City, Chalong-Phuket City and Mai Khao-Phuket City services.
Khun Paiboon said that the ''pinkie bus'' service would soon be enlarged to include new routes from Phuket City's old bus terminal to the new bus terminal, and from Koh Sireh, east of Phuket City, to Saphan Hin in Phuket City.
Private companies on several routes were now finding it difficult to turn a profit, the meeting was told. The Chief of the Transport Office, Phuket, Kanok Siripaint, was also at this week's meeting.
Local administrators have pledged to fast-track local transport reforms in the light of the failure of Bangkok officials to take into account local needs and opinions.
The organisation's ''pinkie buses'' have won national awards and the praises of observers, crisscrossing Phuket City efficiently and charging low fares, with students travelling for free.
The ''pinkie bus'' success on the east side of Phuket contrasts starkly with Phuket's west coast, where tuk-tuks largely monopolise four-wheel transport, charging extortionate fares and leaving locals with no choice except to find their own transport.
The lack of an efficient, low-cost public transport system encourages gridlock on Phuket's roads, with individuals forced to fend for themselves.
Phuket's new ''pinkie bus'' route proposed between Koh Sireh and Saphan Hin would cost a passenger travelling the whole route 12 baht, with students riding free.
Four new buses are to be added to the two existing ''pinkie bus'' routes, providing a total of 12 buses and more frequent services.
Credit: Phuket Wan (phuketwan.com)
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