Democrats drive opposition to Don Mueang Toll extension

The Democrat Party has strongly opposed Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit’s proposal to extend the concession of the Don Mueang Tollway operator by 30 years in exchange for lowering the fare to 50 baht.

This 21-kilometre expressway connects Bangkok’s Din Daeng area to the National Memorial in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani.

The proposal emerged following the concessionaire’s plan to increase the fare by five to 10 baht per section on December 22, raising the rate from 80 to 90 baht for the Din Daeng to Don Mueang section and from 35 to 40 baht for the Don Muang to National Memorial section.

Suriya reportedly argued that extending the concession would alleviate the government’s financial burden, which would otherwise have to compensate for the reduced revenues due to the lower toll.

Charnchai Issarasenarak, a former Democrat MP for Nakhon Nayok, criticised the proposal, stating it is poorly thought out since the concession expires in 2034, at which point the tollway will be transferred to the state.

“After that, motorists can use the expressway free of charge. If the concession is extended, the operator will continue collecting money for another 30 years.”

Samart Ratchapolsitte, a former Deputy Bangkok Governor, expressed his concerns on Facebook, noting that state agencies typically negotiate with expressway operators to delay toll increases to ease the cost of living. He argued that the minister’s plan does not serve the public’s best interests.

Samart wrote that the concession extension would benefit motorists but it means that the state cannot intervene in setting toll fares during the extended concession period. If the expressway is transferred to the state after the concession ends, the state will have the freedom to lower fares.

According to the operator, the planned toll hikes align with the adjustments allowed every five years under the concession deal, potentially increasing the toll from 130 baht per trip to 145 baht per trip before the concession ends.

Originally, the tollway operation was set to transfer to the state in 2014 under a 25-year contract. However, between 2005 and 2006, the operator claimed financial losses due to the government not approving a fare hike and reduced traffic following the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

This dispute led to negotiations between the operator and the Highway Department, resulting in the operator being granted an additional 27 years to run the expressway and permission to increase fares as specified in the agreement, reported Bangkok Post.