Bus passengers win shelter from sun and rain

PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is to build bus shelters for the comfort of passengers using its public mini-buses, the Vice-President of the OrBorJor, Samroeng Chaisorn, said today. “There are 132 places where our buses stop for passengers,” K. Samroeng said. “The OrBorJor can build 32 shelters but many of the other stops are in front of shops.” He said that that about 40,000 passengers were now using the 18-seat minibuses each day. “Eventually we expect people to make about 100,000 trips a day, which should improve Phuket Town traffic.” The bus shelters – 3.6 meters long, 1.2 m wide and 2.65 m tall – will be made from stainless steel with a polycarbonate roof. Tenders for construction will be sought later this month. The 16 air-conditioned mini-buses recently replaced 12 large buses on the two routes that crisscross Phuket Town. The OrBorJor is expected to seek a private company to take over the services from 6 am-8 pm. An additional route could be introduced in October next year.