BANGKOK: -- Forget buses and trains: they're all booked up. And get to the airport three hours early if you want to get anywhere

Heavy traffic built up yesterday afternoon as people headed back to their family homes for the long Songkran holiday.

Route No 9 to the Northeast was the most congested, said Pol Colonel Roy Inkapairoj, Highways Police deputy commander. He said many roads to the North and Northeast would be slow going after 6pm yesterday but expected the traffic would ease today.

"We will reverse some inbound lanes on Paholyothin, Asia and Mitraphab roads to outbound lanes for motorists leaving Bangkok when the roads get jammed," Roy said.

Traffic was also building up along Mitraphab Road in Lamtrakong area as people left the capital, and all outbound routes were very busy by yesterday evening.

Mor Chit bus terminal, Hua Lampong Railway Station and the new Southern Route bus terminal were crowded. Seats on trains and buses were fully booked.

"Normally there are 3,744 trips to the North and Northeast. The number of passengers is expected to reach 250,000 by [yesterday], so another 2,300 trips will be laid on," said Police Colonel Jiradej Prommobol, deputy commander of the Traffic Police Division.

Transport Minister Santi Prompat warned people to buy tickets only from ticket counters. Two bus-operators were found to have sold over-priced tickets and face fines of Bt10,000.

Suvarnabhumi Airport director Serirat Prasutanond urged passengers to arrive at the airport three hours ahead during the Songkran festival to avoid missing their flights.

The Land Transport Depart- ment and the Transport Co estimated there would be up to 900,000 people travelling out of Bangkok during the Thai new year and had provided 6,400 buses, 800 more than last year. At 4pm, 13 deaths and over 300 injuries had been reported on the roads.

Tne Nation/Daily Xpress 2008-04-12