Parties lay out different approaches to bring down living costs

The Bhumjaithai Party is planning to offer a 40-baht daily public transport pass that would be valid on Bangkok’s electric train routes in an effort to make commuting more affordable for the capital’s residents, according to the party’s election director for Bangkok, Buddhipongse Punnakanta.

He said although the city’s electric rail lines were developed to make commuting more affordable, fares for rides along the city’s skytrain lines and subway network are out of reach for some residents of Bangkok and its surrounding provinces — especially when the trip involves more than one rail line.

As such, Bhumjaithai, which currently supervises the Transport Ministry, is planning to offer a 40-baht daily transport pass, which would give its holder access to unlimited rides along the city’s electric rail network for a 24-hour period.

At present, the cost of travelling…