BANGKOK: -- More than 1,000 taxi operators brought their vehicles to have their meters reset after the approved increase in fares was published in the Royal Gazette Wednesday.

The Department of Land Transport works together with Mahanakorn University of Technology on the resetting of the meters.

According to the university dean Sujet Chantarang, it takes about half an hour for the setting, with the price of 200 baht.

Until now, the meter was used only in Bangkok and nearby provinces. Passengers travelling to other provinces had to pay fixed amounts, depending on the distance.

The new rates will start at 35 baht for the first kilometre, not two kilometres as before.

The fares will then be five baht a kilometre for the 2nd-12th kilometres, 5.50 baht a kilometre for the 12th-20th kilometres, six baht a kilometre for the 20th-40th kilometres, 6.50 baht a kilometre for the 40th-60th kilometres, 7.50 baht a kilometre for the 60th-80th kilometres and 8.50 baht a kilometre beyond that.

-- Bangkok Post 2008-07-03