Ministry of Transport has announced measures for the Songkran festival.Traffic forecasts have been released.Traffic during the 10-day Songkran festival is expected to exceed 26.5 million vehicles.More than18.58 million public transport trips are expected.Travel is increasing both within cities and between provinces.The ministry insists there will be no fuel shortages during Songkran and forbids fare hikes. Public transport fares will be frozen. The Transport Co. Ltd. (BKS) plans to have PTT supply fuel to storage tanks at bus terminals nationwide. The goal is to reduce accidents by 5%. Several expressways and motorways will be toll-free, and the M6 motorway will operate over its full 196 km length. Road resurfacing on Rama 2 will pause from 10-16 April. The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand will reduce air navigation fees by 30% during Songkran 2026, expecting a 1.8% increase in flights.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, revealed after chairing a meeting to prepare for travel safety and convenience during Songkran 2026 that the war in the Middle East is affecting Thailand's energy situation and could impact travel during the festival. The Transport Ministry forecasts that in 2026,travel behaviors of the publicmay change due to rising fuel prices, withthe Songkran tourism atmosphere expected tosee a decrease in tourist numbers and less travel home by the public. There will be a shift from long-distance to short-distance travel, and an increased use of public transport.
Accordingly, the Transport Ministry has fully prepared measures, coordinating with PTT to supply fuel at full capacity to storage tanks at Transport Co. Ltd. (BKS) bus terminals nationwide, supporting regular and additional buses during Songkran 2026. The ministry emphasizes there will be no fuel shortages during this period.
Furthermore, it confirms that during Songkran 2026,public transport fareswill not be increased across all systems despite rising fuel prices. Additional support measures for operators are under consideration. To reduce transport costs, the government plans to promote diesel B20 in the market by the weekend, priced about 5 baht per liter lower than diesel B7, encouraging operators of trucks, cargo transport, and public buses to adopt it. The government aims to produce about 16 million liters per day to meet transport and industrial demand amid high fuel prices.
Phiphat added that the ministry forecasts traffic volume during the 10-day Songkran festival from 10-19 April 2026 to be 10.65 million vehicles entering and leaving Bangkok on main highways and motorways, and 15.89 million vehicles on expressways. Public transport trips—including buses, trains, ferries, and airplanes—are expected to total 18.58 million, divided into 11.50 million trips within Bangkok and its vicinity, and 3.45 million interprovincial trips. This shows a 10% increase in public transport demand in Bangkok and vicinity and a 14% increase in intercity travel compared to Songkran 2025. The ministry targets a 5% reduction in accidents, fatalities, and injuries on its road network.Travel within Bangkokand its vicinity accounts for 11.50 million trips, with interprovincial travel at 3.45 million trips. Public transport use in Bangkok and vicinity is expected to rise 10%, and intercity travel 14%, versus Songkran 2025. The ministry aims to reduce road accidents, deaths, and injuries by at least 5%.
Phiphat further stated that agencies under the Transport Ministry will provide free services during Songkran 2026, including: 1. Waiving tolls on expressways managed by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), including Burapha Withi and Kanchanaphisek expressways (Bang Phli–Suksawat) for seven days from 00:01 on 10 April to 24:00 on 16 April 2026, and Udon Ratthaya and Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressways for three days from 00:01 on 13 April to 24:00 on 15 April 2026; 2. Waiving toll fees on three motorways managed by the Department of Highways (DOH): Motorway 7 (Bangkok–Pattaya), Motorway 9 (outer ring road Kanchanaphisek sections Bang Pa-in–Bang Phli and Phra Pradaeng–Bang Khae at Phra Pradaeng–Bang Khun Thian interchange), and Motorway 81 (Bang Yai–Kanchanaburi).
Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisan, Director-General of the Department of Highways, said the DOH has opened Motorway 6 (Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima) covering 196 kilometers for 24 hours, similar to the New Year 2026 period. The Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section will serve as the outbound route from Bangkok from 10-13 April 2026, with the Muak Lek exit open; the inbound route to Bangkok will be from 14-19 April 2026. The Pak Chong–Nakhon Ratchasima section is open for both directions. Overall, construction of Motorway M6 is 99.01% complete.
Two construction sections remain out of 40 total: Section 4 (km 9–15) in Wang Noi district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, expected to finish by May–June 2026; and Section 21 (km 82–86) covering Muak Lek district, Saraburi province, and Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. Work mainly remains on the right-side bridge, including foundation, pier columns, and bridge component installation. Safety inspections of construction equipment are underway, expected to finish by the end of 2026. The goal is to open the entire route with all toll stations operating 24 hours by New Year 2027.
Meetings will be held with highway police to monitor traffic continuously and inform users to coordinate traffic flow between Motorway M6 and Mittraphap Road. Drivers are advised to fill fuel sufficiently before travel. Additionally, Motorway 82 (Bang Khun Thian Interchange–Ekkachai) covering 10 km is open, and road resurfacing on Rama 2 Road construction areas will halt 100% from 10-16 April 2026, enabling six lanes (three each way) for traffic. After Songkran, traffic diversions will resume from 17 April 2026 onward.
Surachai Nooprom, Acting Senior Executive Vice President of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. (AEROTHAI), said the board approved a 30% reduction in air navigation service fees for 191 special discounted flights between 10–15 April 2026 to encourage airlines to add flights accommodating travel home during Songkran. Flight volume in Thailand is expected to reach about 25,620 flights—an average of 2,562 per day—a 1.8% increase from the same period in 2025, mainly domestic and regional flights. However, the situation will be closely monitored due to ongoing conflict.
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