New bus station planned near Supercheap
RASSADA: The Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPTO) has agreed to buy 10 rai of land near Supercheap on Thepkrasattri Rd to build a new inter-provincial bus station.
The existing bus station, on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket City, will be used for only local buses, vans and songtaew, most of which now leave from Ranong Rd.
PPTO chief Chatchawarn Ngarmtup told the Gazette that his office has a verbal agreement to buy the 10 rai at 80 million baht from local businessman Sin Wongcharoen.
The site, now vacant, is next to the Ford warehouse on the inbound side of Thepkrasattri Rd, a few hundred meters south of Supercheap.
The Department of Land Transport has ordered K. Chatchawan to complete the purchase by the end of this month, but he fears this may not be achieved as the PPTO is awaiting final approval from higher levels of the Ministry of Transport, K. Chatchawarn explained.
“In the meantime, the best I can do is finalize the sale contract and wait for final approval from the ministry,” he said.
The location for the new bus station is appropriate because it is centrally located on a main road on the outskirts of the city, K. Chatchawarn said, adding that Phuket City Municipality will be asked to move local transport routes from their current terminus near the fresh market on Ranong Rd to the existing bus station.
Moving the main bus terminal has been discussed for years as a way of reducing traffic congestion in town caused by the large buses needing to navigate the narrow streets of the city center.
