The delay was announced by the local consortium of companies Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) yesterday (May 8).
The service was initially announced to start today (May 9).
“The Opening day of EV bus ‘The Dragon Line’ will be commenced on May 17th, 2024,” said the announcement yesterday.
“Apologize for the delay due to the licensing process, and thank you for your understanding and support,” the announcement added.
PKCD joined forces with the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation to launch the free air-conditioned electric bus service in Phuket Town.
The service, free for all local residents and tourists, will initially operate every day as a trial period. Buses will operate along a circular route every 30 minutes, from 11am to 10pm.
The bus route features 16 stops, as follows:
- Opposite Limelight Phuket
- CIMB (CIMB Bank)
- Phuket Terminal 1 (the old bus terminal)
- Royal Phuket City Hotel
- Opposite Pearl Hotel
- Kaset Market (Fresh Market)
- Office Mate
- Ko-Ang Seafood
- Opposite Red Plaza
- Coffee talk (next to SCB Bank)
- Opposite Krungthai Bank
- Islamic Bank
- Phuket Thaihua Museum
- Dibuk Rd
- Wat Mongkolnimit
- Limelight Phuket
Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, Chairman of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, noted at the project launch last month that the project was the result of “the problem of traffic congestion and the problem of insufficient parking in Phuket Town”.
“The project provides a travel option for tourists and local residents, and helps them choose to use public transportation, especially by using a clean energy vehicle,” he said.
“This project will use electric buses to reduce air pollution. This will help reduce the problem of carbon dioxide that is caused by air pollution as well and promote and support exchanges and connections between government agencies and the private sector, and related sectors,” Mr Bhummikitti concluded.