PHUKET: The election of a new mayor and council at a Phuket City municipality at the weekend is likely to lead to the early opening of the new Phuket bus terminal on April 21.

Freshly elected mayor of Rassada, Yongyut Wicsaidit, saw off former mayor Surathin Lien-udom in Sunday's poll, with supporters sweeping most of the 12 council positions.

A dispute over a u-turn in Thepkasattri Road, outside Khun Surathin's home, has led to a lengthy delay in opening the new bus terminal, which was completed in October 2010.

Khun Surathin recently lost a court appeal to stop the u-turn being created through the median strip on Phuket's main artery, so that departing buses can easily head north off Phuket to Bangkok and other provinces.

Transport Department officials are likely to speed the opening of the bus terminal once the Rassada election result is confirmed, with Phuket Deputy Transport Director Wanta Pumararoskon telling Phuketwan today that a meeting has been called for bus operators on March 28 wih April 21 being considered as the date to open the terminus.

Department officials have already met with the mayor-designate and say he has expressed a willingness for the Rassada municipality to run the terminus, as originally planned.

With the new Phuket opening, the old terminus off Phang Nga Road in Phuket City will become home to the local Phuket buses that now operate from the downtown market.

A low-cost pink Phuket City bus shuttle service will be launched to carry passengers between terminuses.

Chalong also has a new mayor as a result of Sunday's elections - Samran Jindapon. Chalong has been upgraded to a full municipality and Khun Samran was previously president of the Orbotor.

The other facility in Rassada that will open shortly now that the poll is over is the Sea Gypsy Museum, officially entitled the Cultural Centre for Sea Gypsies of Banlaemtukkae, on the island of Sirey - alternatively Siray or Sireh - which is linked to Phuket by a bridge east of Phuket City.