BANGKOK MAKES PUBLIC TRANSPORT FREE DUE TO HIGH SMOG LEVELS

The air pollution levels in Bangkok have reached an all-time high and authorities are scrambling to lower it.

One of the initiatives launched to reduce some of the pollution is to make all public transport free for this week only. The exercise aims to reduce the number of private cars on the road.

In the Thai capital, there are several options for travelling via public transport. This includes buses, light rail, metro and the Skytrain.

Some of these options are above ground while others are below. All of them are free this week only.

The extremely high pollution levels recently led to the government closing more than 350 schools and advising people to rather work from home.

The Swiss-based air quality index (AQI) rates 0 – 33 as very good; 34 – 66 as good; 67 – 99 as fair; 100 – 149 as poor; 150 – 200 as very poor; and 200+ as hazardous.

Last week, Bangkok’s air quality index (AQI) reached 159 by the middle of the week. By the end of the week, the city’s AQI was 185.

Authorities stepped in to close the applicable schools.

“Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has closed 352 schools across 31 districts due to air pollution,” the authority said.

Image credit: Nikkei Asia