The Songkran period is usually quite dangerous on motorways and this decision will enable Songkran revellers to pass checkpoints on the highway faster. It will also facilitate the return home.Beginning with midnight of April 11 until midnight of April18 toll fees on Motorway No 7 between Bangkok and Pattaya and No 9 between BangPa-in and Bang Phli will not be applied. The proposal of the Expressway Authority of Thailand got the approval to waive fees on Buraphavithi expressway between Bang Na and Chon Buri as well.
15 million people are expected to travel during the celebration this year. Heavy traffic is expected along all the main national routes: Route 1 heading north from Bangkok, Route 2 leading to Isan and Route 4 connecting the rest of the country to the southern parts.
The Ministry of Transport is also trying to come to a consensus with Blue train line operators on lifting train fare for elderly people of 60 and older on April 13.
Highway toll collection to be cancelled on April 11-18
News in Asia
In connection with the coming Songkran festival, the Thai New Year, which makes a lot of people leave their homes and join their relatives living in other regions to celebrate it or going to some tourist places, the Cabinet decided last week to cancel motorway toll fees for the period from April 11 to April 18 to ease the traffic congestion.