HCM City improves access to bus services

HCM City improves access to bus services

HCM CITY –  Only around  五 五 per cent of wards and co妹妹unes in HCM City have easy access to the city's bus services, which include  二, 三00 buses operating on  一 二 八 routes in all  二 四 districts. 

Nguyễn Hoài Thư, a student at HCM City University of Technology, told Vnexpress that she and other students often have to stand on the street at the bus stop because the pavement is occupied by vendors. 

Near District  九’s Suối Tiên Theme Park, bus riders have to either wait at one of five bus stops in front of the park or at a bus stop station across the park where many vendors sell goods.

The city has about  四, 四00 bus stops, including  六 三 八 bus stations. The number of bus stops has grown slowly over the years.

People waiting at bus stops sometimes have to endure harsh sunlight or rain, while some bus stations are located next to garbage containers emitting strong smells, warding off bus riders.

The number of bus travelers has also dropped in recent years, with a  一 二. 一 per cent decrease in  二0 一 九 compared to  二0 一 八.

Lê Hoàn, deputy director of the HCM City Management Centre of Public Transport, told that investment in bus infrastructure has been limited.

The centre is currently completing work on  四 三 new bus stations, and is upgrading  一 二 and replacing eight. It will also erect  二 八 bus stand poles and  三 四 information boards this year. Next year, it plans to either build or upgrade  一 七 九 bus stops and  二 三 五 bus stand poles.

The city Department of Transport plans to increase accessibility to bus stops and bus stands, especially in high-demand areas such as Việt Nam National University – HCM City and streets leading to the Miền Đông Coach Station.

The transport management centre is conducting inspections at bus stations and has asked districts and wards to deal with vendors who take up space in bus stations. – VNS