Phuket Smart Bus to launch start of 2018
Phuket Smart Bus, as a part of Phuket City Development (PKCD), is launching the first ten smart buses, thanks to an investment of 40 million Baht, aiming to develop Phuket public transportation. The route will be from Phuket International Airport straight to Phuket Town.
“Phuket Smart Bus is one of the twelve Smart Growth projects we created for Phuket. The company Phuket Smart Bus, in cooperation with Loxley Public Company Limited, has ordered ten modern buses. Each of them is 9.5 metres long and 2 metres high, featuring 24 seats with storage for luggage, Wi-Fi, wheelchair access including a small lift to facilitate the access, CCTV and television,” according to PKCD Board of Directors, Watchara Jaruariyanon.
“PKCD will create a refillable card that will be used to pay for the transport, so there is no cash transaction at the bus directly. An App will be created to inform both foreigners and locals on the location of the buses and their stops, which makes it convenient for people to go and wait at the correct spots.”
PKCD are currently negotiating with Phuket Mahanakhon Company Limited with regards to the exact routes the bus will travel to as this company is currently holding concessions on the road from Phuket International Airport to Phuket Town. They will further negotiate with the Department of Land and Transportation for additional routes in the future, which include Phuket International Airport – Baan Kien intersection – Laguna – Cherng Talay – Kamala – Patong – Karon – Kata – Rawai. The overall route is about 50 to 60 kilometers and the fee is estimated between 50 to 150 Baht, depending on the distance.
