PATHUM THANI, Thailand – Thailand’s Transport Ministry is stepping up efforts to break up alleged taxi influence groups and end illegal parking, fare abuses and passenger complaints around Rangsit intersection and Future Park Rangsit. Deputy Transport Minister Siriphong Angkasakulkiat told Parliament on September 3 that the ministry and local authorities were intensifying enforcement around the central traffic island beneath the Uttaraphimuk elevated highway, between Future Park Rangsit and Major Cineplex Rangsit, as well as taxi and bus areas around the Rangsit transport terminal.
Authorities have received complaints about taxis refusing to use meters, demanding excessive flat fares, parking for long periods and obstructing traffic. Officials have also received complaints about alleged local influence groups demanding payments from taxi operators. From June through August, authorities took legal action against 304 offenders in the area.
Of these, 270 cases involved violations of the Land Traffic Act, mainly illegal parking and obstructing traffic. Another 26 cases involved violations of the Vehicle Act, including operating vehicles beyond their permitted service life, using the wrong type of driving licence, failing to display required public-vehicle markings and using private vehicles for passenger services.
A further eight cases involved violations of the Land Transport Act, including overcharging passengers, failing to display driver and vehicle registration information, carrying more passengers than permitted and violating route conditions. The Transport Ministry has now increased inspections around the Rangsit bus terminal from once a week to at least three times a week, including outside normal government working hours. Officials will immediately order taxis or other vehicles to move if they are found blocking bus stops, solid white-yellow lines or traffic lanes and creating risks for passengers or disrupting bus operations.
Information on taxis that have exceeded their permitted operating age will be forwarded to the Department of Land Transport and other agencies for further action, while evidence of alleged influence groups demanding payments will be passed to police for investigation and legal proceedings. The ministry is also planning a longer-term technological response to the problem.
A project has been proposed to install eight AI-equipped CCTV cameras around Rangsit intersection using funding from the Road Safety Fund. The cameras would automatically monitor traffic and public transport operations and record information that could help authorities identify violations.
The ministry is also linking electronic data between the Department of Land Transport and the Royal Thai Police under a memorandum of understanding designed to improve enforcement of traffic laws. The arrangement has been in effect since August 1.
Siriphong said the government was also encouraging passengers to use app-based taxi services, with transport offices expanding operating hours and removing limits on the number of applications for new and renewed public taxi driving licences. In Pathum Thani, more than 1,137 such licences were issued between February and July 2026, providing passengers with additional legal transport options. The Bus and Transport Company has also assigned staff to the Rangsit bus terminal to help manage passenger pick-up and drop-off areas and maintain order.
Siriphong urged passengers to choose legally registered public taxis with yellow plates and report drivers who refuse passengers, refuse to use meters or threaten or intimidate customers.
Complaints can be made to the Department of Land Transport hotline 1584 around the clock.
