Thailand is to extend relief measures to help low-income Thais cope with the high cost of living, a senior Finance Ministry official said on Friday. Free public transport will continue for another six months from the end of this month and that would cost about 1.2 billion baht ($39 million), the ministry's permanent secretary, Areepong Bhoocha-oom, told reporters.
Free electricity for households consuming up to 90 units per month and a cap on the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas will also continue, Areepong said. Subsidies have been extended several times by outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva after being introduced under a previous government.