DEPUTY Prime Minister-cum-Energy Minister Peeraphan Saleerathaviphak said today (Dec. 21) he does not know where Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit got the idea to hike excise tax on petrol only in Bangkok and surrounding provinces to incentivise people to travel by train and it probably won’t materialise, Naewna newspaper said.
While Suriya said he will be holding talks with Peeraphan on setting up a common ticket fund from additional revenue generated by hiking excise tax on petrol in Greater Bangkok, the latter said he does not know about this proposal but there are many other ways to incentivise people to travel by train.
“Increasing taxes is for the government to decide but as for me, it probably won’t go up because right now our measure is to reduce petrol price not increase it.
“Moreover there has been no approach to hold talks.”
Asked again would hiking petrol excise tax just in Greater Bangkok not dissatisfy people living in the metropolitan zone, he replied that reporters should ask Suriya as he did not come up with this plan.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: An attendant prepares to refuel a car at a petrol station in Rome on January 4, 2012. File photo: Reuters/Max Rossi and published by CNA
First insert: Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Energy Minister Peeraphan Saleerathaviphak. Photo: Naewna
Second insert: Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit. Photo: Matichon
Also read: Suriya puts off capping Bangkok train fares at 20 baht per trip
Pita warns govt of censure debate early next year
Shopping sprees by well-to-do to spur 70bn baht cash flow
Nearly 100,000 people indebted to loan sharks
Agriculture Minister joins crackdown on rubber smuggling
