After years of setbacks, the cabinet has finally approved the purchase of a new fleet of 3,183 buses for Bangkok. It is said the new buses will allow the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to transport 1.7 million passengers daily in Bangkok and its suburbs. Costing around B13 billion in total, the order includes 1,659 non-air-conditioned buses and 1,524 air-conditioned buses. All new buses will run on natural gas to keep tickets more affordable (from B6 for non-air-con and B14 for air-con) and reduce carbon emissions. The cabinet promises that the first 1,124 air-con buses will be ready for service before the end of 2013.