HCM City bus passenger number ascends

Since the beginning of 2017, the number of bus passengers in the southern hub has risen by 14.4% year-on-year, the first positive development following several years of declining use of public transport.

Buses in the city have provided service for 163.3 million passengers during the period, accounting for 47.2% of this year’s passenger goal set by local authorities.

According to Tran Chi Trung, director of the city’s Management and Operation Center for Public Transport, the increase in passengers can be attributed to the fact that nearly 700 new buses had been added to replace dilapidated old ones along some 39 routes.

About 800 CNG (compressed natural gas) buses are expected to be put into operation during 2017, contributing to an improvement in service quality and a reduction in environmental pollution, Trung continued.

Several new services have been added to hike the level of convenience for local residents and tourists, namely the addition of routes leading to Saigon Railway Station in District 3 and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Tan Binh District.

Four electric bus routes with a capacity of 15 passengers were also added to facilitate commuters in District 7 and the downtown area.