Bangkok: The Department of Land Transport has completed a nationwide inspection of CNG-powered buses, identifying 68 vehicles as unsafe and issuing immediate bans on their use.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Land Transport, in collaboration with Provincial Transport Offices, conducted the inspections from October 4 to October 16, 2024, as part of a Ministry of Transport directive. This directive mandates the inspection of all CNG-fueled public buses, both regular and non-regular, to ensure safety and bolster passenger confidence. The inspections resulted in 1,331 buses being scrutinized, with 68 of them failing to meet safety standards and receiving a “Do Not Use” warning.
Operators of buses that received the warning must repair their vehicles and have them re-inspected within 15 days. Failure to comply will result in the immediate cancellation of the vehicle’s registration, except in cases where repairs cannot be completed within the specified timeframe. In such instances, operators must
notify the Department of Land Transport and request a temporary suspension until the necessary repairs are made.
The issues leading to the issuance of the “Do Not Use” warnings included expired gas tanks and damaged equipment and accessories. So far, only 12 of the flagged buses have been repaired and cleared for use, leaving 56 still under prohibition.
To facilitate the inspection process and mitigate traffic congestion, the Department of Land Transport is offering pre-scheduled inspections at various locations. These include Bangkok Transport Office Areas 1-5, and three freight stations: Rom Klao, Phutthamonthon, and Khlong Luang, available daily from 08:30 to 16:30, including public holidays. The Bang Sue Central Station has partnered with the State Railway of Thailand to provide parking space for buses awaiting inspection.
The deadline for all CNG bus operators to comply with these safety measures is November 30, 2024. Pre-appointment for vehicle inspections can be arranged through the Passenger Vehicl
e Inspection Unit or the Truck Inspection Unit at the Department of Land Transport.