Anything & Everything about Thailand (Part 2)

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 31 December 2007 :-

3 arrested for two Sungai Kolok disco bombing

Police have arrested three men for alleged involvement in the explosions at two discotheques in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok on the New Year's eve.

Police claimed the three confessed to the attack which wounded 58 people, including foreign tourists.

Two bombs planted behind loudspeakers at the discotheque of the Riviera Hotel on Prachawiwat Road went off at about 4am, sending New Year revellers fleeing in panic.

Some ran to the parking lot behind the hotel to retrieve their motorcycles when a third bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded. Fire engulfed the motorcycles, damaging about 20 of them.

Later a similar bombing attack took place at the Marina Hotel on Charoenkhet Road.

A bomb went off in the discotheque on the second floor of the hotel, sending revellers running in panic. A second bomb then exploded in the hotel parking lot.

Police said 31 people were injured in the second hotel attack, two in serious condition.

Meanwhile, Narathiwat governor Karun Suppakitwilekakarn said the three suspects were Muhammad Saki Madeurae, 23, Sahae Saa, 24 and Assaroh Mayi, 29, all from Narathiwat.

The arrest of the three suspects came after police inspected security cameras at the hotels, Karun said. Karun said one suspect confessed that the group wanted to instigate chaos during the New Year holiday.

An initial investigation by police showed that the three suspects had criminal records for involvement in violence in the province's Sungai Kolok and Sungai Padi districts.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 31 December 2007 :-

Police, soldiers to beef up security in Bangkok

The Army, Navy and Air Force will assist the Metropolitan Police to beef up security in Bangkok on New Year's Eve.

Pol Col Piyaphan Pingmuang, deputy spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the Air Force would deploy its personnel to keep security in northern Bangkok and the Army in central Bangkok while the Navy would help monitor the situation on the Thon Buri side.

The Metropolitan Bureau would deploy one company of police to watch over 38 venues where the New Year celebrations will be held on New Year's Eve, he said.

He said 19 areas would be under special close watch, including Central World.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 31 December 2007 :-

Bangkokians prepare to ring in the New Year

Ten ... nine ... eight ... seven ... six ... five ... four ... three ... two ... one. Is Bangkok ready for the New Year countdown tonight? The answer _ with a little hesitation from some _ seems to be yes.

Traffic leading to Ratchaprasong, where thousands of people gather each year for the New Year's Eve countdown, was heavy yesterday. And although people seemed to be having a good time posing for photographs in front of the backdrop of colourful electric lights last night, the popular downtown area with its shops and beer gardens was noticeably quieter than last year.

It seems many people may be thinking twice before joining big street celebrations due to lingering fears caused by the New Year's Eve bombings in the capital last year, which killed three and injured dozens more.

One of the nine explosions went off near Bangkok's most famous countdown spots around the Ratchaprasong intersection.

Beer gardens that dot the area were only half full last night.

''Our clients have almost halved from last year. It was almost packed at this time last year,'' said a waitress at a beer garden. ''I guess people may have second thoughts. Some may be afraid of bombs,'' she said. She was also there last year when a bomb rocked the area.

''The place is less crowded. But we have to wait and see,'' said Bancha Sudharnwat, a 31-year-old Bangkokian who said he always turns up for the countdown at Ratchaprasong.

''I am not afraid of bomb attacks. I am just tired of overcrowding and prefer a peaceful New Year.''

Mr Bancha said, however, it may help regain public confidence if more police officers were deployed around the area.

''But I believe there will be no bombs because this is an auspicious year,'' he said, referring to the celebrations of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday.

Agustin Mendez, an architect from Spain, said he was also not concerned about the possibility of bomb attacks.

''My concern about bombs in Bangkok is zero,'' he said, adding that last year's bombs were something beyond anyone's control and could happen anywhere.

The organiser of the New Year's Eve countdown expressed confidence in the security measures in place for tonight's festivities.

''We are going to make this place a landmark countdown venue,'' said Krongtong Tonaaree, of CM Organiser, which has just signed a four-year contract with Central department store to run the countdown celebrations at CentralWorld.

This year's event is called ''Hands 2008'' and runs until 2am on Tuesday.

''We've used the name 'Hands 2008' because we want people to forget bad events. Hands mean helping,'' she said.

She said Pathumwan district office would supply staff to collect rubbish as all garbage bins had been removed for security reasons. Public phone booths will also be cleared and guarded by police.

Metal detectors will be installed at the entrance to the area and plainclothes police will also be on patrol.

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-Gen Suporn Pansua assured New Year revellers of their safety.

He said security had been beefed up at key locations across the capital including Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Major Ratchayothin, Lumpini Park, Seacon Square and Sanam Luang.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The New Straits Times dated Tuesday 1 January 2008 :-

2 Malaysians injured in Sungai Golok blasts

SUNGAI GOLOK : Two Malay-sians were among 58 people injured in five separate bombings at two hotels here early yesterday.

The Malaysians and the 56 Thais were all referred to Sungai Golok Hospital.

A hospital spokesman said 11 of the Thais were warded because of serious injuries, while the Malaysians and the rest of the Thais were given outpatient treatment.

"The two Malaysians, a woman and a man, only identified as Norlela and Che Yusof, were sent home after treatment."

The spokesman said the bombings, the sixth such incident last year, occurred when the insurgents stepped up their campaign of violence on New Year's eve.

A Sungai Golok police spokesman said three bombs exploded at the Riviera Hotel located in Prachawiwat Road, while another two exploded at the Marina Hotel in Charoenkhet Road.

The spokesman said the Riviera Hotel attacks happened about 5am followed by the attacks at Marina Hotel.

"The insurgents placed two timed explosive devices in the loudspeakers in the discotheque of Riviera Hotel and another on a motorcycle outside the hotel.

"At Marina Hotel, one bomb was placed in a discotheque, while another was placed in the hotel's parking lot."

He said the incidents also damaged 21 motorcycles and two cars near the hotels.

The authorities also discovered another bomb outside the disco of the Genting Hotel but they managed to detonate it.

"If the sixth bomb had exploded, the situation could could have been more serious as Genting Hotel is located about 300m from the Muhibah bridge that separates Malaysia from Thailand."

Narathiwat governor Karun Suppakitwilekakarn said following the incident, Thai police had arrested eight suspects, aged between 23 and 29.

Karun said one of the suspects admitted that they wanted to create trouble during the new year celebration.

Most of the suspects had criminal records and were linked to other bombings in three provinces. They are now being held at an army camp in Pattani.

Meanwhile, efforts to interview the two Malaysians proved futile as police could not provide their backgrounds.

The two, from Kelantan, may have entered Thailand through one of the illegal jetties.

When contacted, Deputy Kelantan police chief SAC II Amir Hamzah Ibrahim advised local people not to cross over to the sub-province because of the unstable situation there.

He believed that entertainment outlets in the country, especially discos and karaoke bars, were targeted by insurgents.

Amir said security along the Kelantan/Thai border had also been stepped up following the latest bombings.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Saturday 12 January 2008 :-

56% of Thai students open to sex before marriage

An opinion survey of vocational and university students has found that more than half of the respondents (56%) are open to premarital sex. Conducted by the Child Watch Project of the Ramjitti Institute, the survey has blamed the attitude for the soaring rate of unwanted pregnancies among Thai teenage girls during the past year.

Amornvich Nakornthap, director of the institute, said 36% of vocational and university female students said they have had sex at least once.

A total of 68,385 girls under the age of 19 became pregnant last year - an average of around 180 pregnancies a day.

Besides, the survey also found that 45% of respondents suspected their classmates had homosexual tendencies.

The survey, which was supported by the Thailand Research Fund and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, also included a study on the behaviour, mental health, education, social environment, and lifestyles of Thai children and teenagers of differing ages.

The nationwide survey included a sample of 140,000 children from elementary school, secondary school, high school, and vocational and university students from 2006-2007.

''A total of 6,255 child sexual abuse cases, or 17 cases per day, were reported on average. More and more children under the age of 18 are becoming victims of sexual abuse,'' Mr Amornvich said.

He said youth crime and school violence were also on the rise, with 43,000 children below 18 convicted and sent to detention centres in the past year.

Mr Amornvich said only 10% of children performed regular religious activities such as giving alms to monks, visiting temples or practising meditation.

He said it was encouraging to learn that up to 90% of children believed in karma - good actions will bring good results and bad actions bad results.

''However, the good news is that on the education front, Thai children, including the disabled, have better access to education these days.

''About 73% of the Mathayom 6 students are being provided with the opportunity to continue their studies up to the university level,'' he said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Saturday 12 January 2008 :-

Mercury on northern mountains drop to 2 degree

The Meteorological Department predicted Saturday that the temperature at mountaintops in northern provinces could drop to 2 Celsius degree.

In its daily forecast issued at 4 am, the department said the lowest temperature at mountaintops in northern provinces from 6 am Saturday to 6 am Sunday could be between 2 to 8 Celsius degrees.

The lowest temperature on the lowland in the region would be 10 degree.

The department said the lowest temperature at mountaintops in northeastern provinces in the same period would be 8 to 13 Celsius degree while the lowest temperature on the lowland would be 17 degree.

The department said the temperature would further drop on Monday when a high pressure mass China would move down to cover the upper part of Thailand.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 14 January 2008 :-

Baht hits new 10-year high against US dollar

The baht currency appreciated to 33.13 to the US dollar on Monday, its strongest showing in 10 years against a continuously weakening greenback.

Currency dealers at Bank of Ayudhya predicted that the baht would further strengthen to 33 to the dollar soon. The US dollar is weaker because of concerns about a US economic slowdown.

The latest US trade figures showed that in November the country experienced a trade deficit of US$6.3 billion, the highest in 14 months, since imports, particularly of fuel, had increased.

At the same time, the country's exports edged up by 0.4 per cent, hitting a record one-month high boosted by the weaker US dollar.

Meanwhile, the Stock Exchange of Thailand's composite index continued to drop in the morning trading
session in the same direction with other regional markets.

It opened lower and fell below a support level of 790 points, but recouped its loss and closed at 791.30, down 5.17 or 0.65 per cent, with a thin trading volume of 4.95 billion baht.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 14 January 2008 :-

Suspected insurgents torched GSM mobile phone signal facilities

On Monday, in Sungai Kolok district, suspected insurgents torched GSM mobile phone signal facilities at several locations, disrupting mobile phone services. Fresh produce bound for Malaysia had to be left at the border because food exporters could not contact their customers.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 17 January 2008 :-

Fire prevention found substandard at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The fire prevention system at Suvarnabhumi airport is substandard, a team of engineers has concluded in a report. The report, completed by experts at the Engineering Institute of Thailand, is to reach the Airports of Thailand today.

According to the report, fire-fighting equipment as well as installation and maintenance are below standard.

Besides this, smoke and heat detectors and sprinklers do not cover every area of the passenger terminal. Areas that are not covered include some electrical control rooms, corridors and conveyor belt zones.

Apart from being of poor quality, detectors are installed behind wire pipelines and racks and air vents that may hamper their function and obstruct maintenance.

Some sprinklers are out of order.

There are not enough manually operated fire alarm switches. Safety standards require one switch every 60 metres along passages.

The survey team also found some fire controls indicating false fire alarms and malfunctions but these had not been attended to.

Most of the fire exit signs are not sufficiently illuminated and some signs have direction arrows that confuse toilets and fire exits.

A number of electric appliances such as switches are easily broken.

Most wire pipelines are substandard, and this includes poor ground wire installation, it said.

Shops block some fire exits and some fire hose cabinets while some of these hose cabinets have incomplete sets of instruments.

The report also indicated water leakages in electrical control rooms with drops of water falling onto control panels. Many control rooms are made into storage and living quarters.

Flammable perfume and cosmetic products are stored behind illuminated advertisement boxes and partition boards of shops were made of flammable wood, plywood and hardboard.

Besides, a Thai pavilion blocks the airflow to ventilating fans and a large-scale sculpture and a restaurant block passages to fire exits in Concourse D building, the report said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 22 January 2008 :-

Thai AirAsia rushes to zap 737s

The low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia (TAA) is expediting the phase-out of its gas-guzzling Boeing B737 jets in a revised plan to address spiking oil prices and prevent its aircraft capacity from expanding too quickly.

The airline's 12 B737-300s would leave the fleet three or four years sooner than originally scheduled, a move that would subject the airline to ''hefty'' penalty fees from the aircraft leasing firm.

The faster release of the B737-300s is part of a revised strategy to bring in brand-new Airbus A320s to cut fuel bills and operating and maintenance costs, which are becoming prohibitive.

''With jet fuel prices at this level [above $100 a barrel] and likely to stay high, the fuel factor has become more critical to address promptly,'' TAA chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld said yesterday.

Four Boeing 737-300s would be retired from TAA's fleet this year, five more next year and the remainder in 2010.

The release of the Boeing 737-300s does not mean that TAA would add more aircraft than the 40 A320s ordered from Airbus and due for delivery over the next two years.

It would also be difficult for TAA to advance delivery of the A320s as Airbus has suffered production constraints.

TAA has moved carefully in expanding its flights and routes due to an expected slowdown in the global economy.

The airline will delay the launch of new international routes such as from Bangkok to Guangzhou and Jakarta planned this year, though Mr Tassapon insisted that all of its planned international routes to China remain intact but with a different timetable.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 24 January 2008 :-

Single ticketing plan moves step closer

Bangkok's elevated train and subway operators plan to integrate their ticketing system this year and then cut fares to encourage more commuters to use the service.

Executives of Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTS), which operates the elevated railway, and Bangkok Metro Plc (BMCL), which runs the subway, signed an agreement yesterday to integrate their ticketing systems.

According to BTS chief adviser Anat Arbhabhirama, the companies will make their old tickets compatible with each other's systems in the next six months.

In the next two years, they will introduce a common ticketing system that can later expand to cover other modes of transport, including expressways, passenger buses, boats and shops.

Key to the integration is creation of a clearing house by both electric train operators to handle revenue-sharing.

The companies plan to hire a consultant next month to study the integration process.

BTS chief executive officer Keeree Kanjanapas said that once a common ticketing system is in place, both operators will find ways to cut fares to attract more commuters.

Without fare cuts being offered, he said, few commuters would turn to electric trains because there were other kinds of affordable transport available.

He expected the convenience of a common ticketing system would encourage more commuters to use electric trains.

However, BMCL managing director Sombat Kitjalaksana said yesterday that the subway would raise its fares from 15-39 baht to 16-40 baht from July 3 this year. The increase was in line with its contract which allows the firm to raise fares every two years.

Prapat Chongsanguan, governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority which owns the subway concession, said extended railway networks would make the system more attractive, not a common ticketing system.

Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has cut its rapid-train fees for people travelling less than 300 kilometres. The cut is to help offset higher consumer prices resulting from rising fuel costs.

The fee cut will take effect on Feb 1. The fare for a trip of up to 50km will be halved to 20 baht. Those travelling up to 150km will pay 30 baht and up to 300km, 50 baht.

Trips within these ranges include services between Bangkok and Lop Buri, Kaeng Khoi and Ratchaburi. The fare for travel distances of over 300km will stay at 110 baht.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 24 January 2008 :-

Sunway expands into Thailand - Malaysian hotelier seeks regional role

Malaysia-based Sunway International Hotels & Resorts is seeking to expand into the Thai hospitality business to become the leading regional player in this industry, said chief executive officer Hanley Chew. Sunway Group has two hotel brands, Sunway for premier properties and Allson for economy customers. It has about 20 hotels, half of which are in Malaysia and the rest in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Singapore. It projects to have 50 hotels in the Asia Pacific region in the next five years through expansion in China, Australia and India.

Mr Chew said the group wanted to be a strong regional player and it realised that the missing location from its portfolio was Thailand, which was poised to become a strategic location feeding customers to its other hotels in the region, especially Cambodia and Vietnam.

''Our plan for Thailand is very clear for this moment. We are looking for opportunities whether it is an investment opportunity, joint venture or management contract - one of these opportunities in a good location. We are very open as far as the opportunity is concerned,'' he said.

''We always recognise that geographically Malaysia is not a good gateway in Asia as we are sandwiched between Thailand and Singapore. Therefore, we believe that Bangkok is a very important gateway in order to grow in this region. Thailand is too important for us to ignore so we must have our presence here.''

Mr Chew said the company was not in a hurry to enter the market as it wanted to find the right partner with the right piece of land. It wants to start in Bangkok and later spread to resort locations in Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Phuket or Pattaya.

The company is in discussions with prospective partners for management contracts but all talks are in the preliminary stages and it still has not concluded which brand - Sunway or Allson - would be started first in Thailand.

He said four-star hotels generally brought more profit in terms of return on investment so they were suitable for owners with a pure investment purpose.

Mr Chew said another reason to come to Thailand was human capital as it was still easy to recruit and train staff.

The Malaysian hospitality business faces a shortage of personnel as many employees are now working in China, Macau and Singapore.

Despite strong competition in the Thai hospitality market, the company believed that it could work with travel agents to sell its name related to the flagship Sunway Lagoon, which is known regionally for its superb water theme park.

The change of marketing in this business towards more direct marketing through the internet would help Sunway to directly communicate with potential customers.

He noted that the Tourism Authority of Thailand was right in promoting the Mice (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) market to attract quality tourists to the country.

Sunway's hospitality business contributed about 20% to the whole Sunway Group, with 12% revenue growth last year. The company expects to maintain the same growth this year.

All of the company's hotels have been profitable with 40-48% gross margins in the past few years.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 24 January 2008 :-

Yum Restaurants to boost spending by 30% - Plans major expansion of KFC and Pizza Hut

Yum Restaurants International (Thailand) Co plans to spend 1.1 billion baht this year, or 30% more than last year, on branch expansion and brand building as part of its plan to double sales by 2010. Sran Smutkochorn, the company's managing director, said that about 60% of the money would go to open new branches and renovate existing outlets, while the rest would be for marketing activities.

The company plans to open 30 KFC and 15 Pizza Hut outlets this year and beef up its delivery business to accelerate growth. Eighteen outlets will be under Yum Restaurants, with the rest under the Central Restaurant Group.

Last year, the company spent 835 million baht, of which 485 million baht went to open 26 new KFC and five Pizza Hut outlets and the remainder for a marketing budget.

''We opened more than 20 new KFC outlets for three consecutive years though the country's economy is not strong,'' Mr Sran said. ''This year the economy is not clear, but we will still keep our investment plan unchanged.''

He said same-store sales at KFC in the first five weeks of the 2008 financial year starting from Dec 1, 2007, grew by 15%. Pizza Hut saw 20% growth, topping expectations.

Based on the good early results, the company has already opened five KFC outlets after one month. He added that the company would open at least 15 new KFC outlets with delivery services to expand services to customers in all target groups.

KFC now offers delivery services to customers in 48 countries. In addition, the company plans to add new menu items every four weeks as 20% of customers like to buy new dishes.

''We will seriously develop new healthy dishes this year,'' Mr Sran said.

The company is not worried about the political situation but is concerned about the economy and rising raw material prices. It has enough raw materials to get it through February, but plans to maintain its prices.

''We will not stop our investment plan or slash our advertising and promotional budgets even though the country's situation will get worse than at the moment. This is because 2008 is a stepping stone for us to double our sales by 2010,'' Mr Sran said.

Apart from its growing food service business, the work environment at Yum's restaurant swill also change according to the ''Every Day is Casual'' theme. To create a more relaxed atmosphere, the staff can dress casually every day.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 24 January 2008 :-

McDonald's considering increasing its food prices

McThai Co, the local operator of McDonald's fast-food restaurants, is considering raising prices on the back of higher operating costs. Chief executive Hester Chew said costs of logistics, packaging and raw materials had already risen by 8-10% in the past few months. Among its raw materials, dairy product prices have risen the most, by 40-50%.

''At the moment, we can absorb our rising costs but we can't guarantee that we won't hike our prices in the future. We will review the impact every two weeks and look at fixed costs, sales and extra costs, so that we can decide when and how we will lift the prices,'' he said yesterday.

McThai expects to see its prices increase by 2-3% on average this year.

Mr Chew said consumer confidence had not yet improved as most people were waiting to see the new cabinet lineup. But the country's political and economic outlook is positive this year following the formation of a new coalition government.

This year, the company will invest 450 million baht to open at least 20 new McDonald's outlets, mainly in Bangkok and Phuket, bringing the total number of stores to 120.

It expects sales to rise by 20% this year compared to zero growth in 2007, when political uncertainty affected people's confidence and spending.

To achieve its target, McThai will focus on adding new menus and providing more convenience to customers. Delivery and drive-through services will be expanded as well.

Yesterday it introduced a breakfast menu at 59 outlets. The menu will be served at the outlets from 5 am to 11 am and deliveries would run from 9 to 11 am. McThai has also joined with Nestle{aac} to include gourmet coffee in its breakfast menu.

''We hope our breakfast menu will help lift sales in the morning by 30%,'' Mr Chew said.

Currently, morning sales contribute 10-12% to the company's total sales while lunch and dinner sales each represent 25-28%, sales from 8 pm to midnight 15-18% and those after-midnight 3-5%.

McThai spent one year doing market research for the breakfast menu. During the trial period in December, the menu drew a very good response, lifting morning sales by 34%.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 24 January 2008 :-

BTS likely to miss 2008 targets

The elevated train operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) is likely to miss its target to increase passenger totals to 500,000 a day by the end of this year as commuters have cut their travelling amid the economic slowdown.

Anat Arbhabhirama, an adviser to the BTS board, said this year would be the first since the skytrain opened almost eight years ago that daily passenger totals would rise by less than 10%.

At present, roughly 420,000 passengers use the two Skytrain lines on weekdays and 300,000 to 350,000 on weekends, he said.

''The economy is the most important factor (behind slowing passenger growth) as people have cut expenses to save money. For example, they go to see movies and shop less frequently.

''Meanwhile, high oil prices have encouraged people to switch to rail transport. The ratio, however, has not been significant so far.''

BTS in March 2007 increased its fares with the range now from 15 to 40 baht. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has approved an increase to a maximum of 45 baht 18 months after the latest adjustment.

Even though it would fall short of ridership targets, Mr Anat said BTS would be on track to increase its revenue by 4-5% this year from 2007 with a net profit.

He declined to reveal the exact figures last year but said it generated 9-10 million baht per day on weekdays and 6-8 million a day on weekends.

''Our operations are already far beyond the break-even level, which is three million baht per day,'' Mr Anat said.

The skytrain operator is expected to complete business rehabilitation to substantially cut its debt to 10 billion baht from almost 50 billion baht by the end of this year. However, the target could be delayed as minority creditors have appealed to the court against the plan.

The two BTS elevated rail lines currently cover 23.5 kilometres, and the three extensions that are planned would extend the total length of the system to 41 km. BTS has ordered 12 more trains to serve more passengers, Mr Anat said.

With a total investment of 150 billion baht, the government has planned to develop five more rail lines in Bangkok, two of which are likely to start construction by the end of this year.

''The route expansion would definately benefit BTS by helping us to increase ridership. Now, our routes are in strategic locations in central Bangkok where people have to commute to avoid congested traffic,'' he said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork