New bus station gets green light

PHUKET TOWN: A new terminus for long-haul buses will be built on 10 rai of land near the Tesco-Lotus supercenter, Samroeng Chaisorn, Vice-President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), told the Gazette today. “Phuket OrBorJor will provide the 38-million-baht budget,” K. Samroeng said, adding that construction is expected to start in October, when the funds come through, though a date has yet to be set for its completion. He explained that the land was donated by Kanit Yongsakul, owner of the Boat Lagoon. K. Samroeng said that the OrBorJor will run the bus station in cooperation with the national bus transport enterprise, popularly known by the Thai initials BorKorSor. The new terminus will be designed by the Department of Land Transport. “It will improve Phuket’s image,” he said. The new terminus is expected to relieve traffic congestion in Phuket Town, especially at the existing terminus on Phang Nga Rd, which will be converted to a terminus for the local island buses that currently congrerate on Ranong Rd.