Buses at the Mien Tay (Western) Coach Station in HCM City’s Binh Tan district (Photo: VNA) HCMCity (VNS/VNA) - HCM City plans to spend nearly 400 trillion VND (17.3billion USD) on improving public transport and limiting the use ofpersonal vehicles during the next decade.
According to the city People’s Committee Office, the Department of Transporthas submitted a tentative plan for this.
The focus will be on developing the bus network.
The city will ensure there is no shortage of human resources so that publictransport projects are completed on schedule, including a number ofplanned metro routes and a bus rapid transit (BRT) system.
By 2030, it expects to begin operation of the Thu Thiem-Long Thanhlight rail to serve people travelling to the Long Thanh International Airport,which is scheduled for completion in a few years.
It will also consider other mass transport modes such as electric trams.
Inland waterway transport will be developed along with tourism.
A plan to regulate taxis in the inner city, including where theycan pick up and drop off passengers, will be drafted.
The city plans to operate small buses with fewer than 17 seatsto reduce congestion on the roads and ply easily along smaller streets, andbuild a network of bus stations.
It will solicit private investment in deploying public bicyclesfor rent and operating electric motorbikes and trams.
Authorities will consider earmarking dedicated lanes for publicbuses to ensure their punctuality.
Priority will be given to vehicles that use clean andenvironment-friendly fuels such as CNG, LPG and electricity.
The quality of human resources operating buses will be improved.
The management and operation of public transport systems will bemodernised.
By 2025, smart cards are expected to be used on allbus routes and also on other public transport like the metro,river bus and public bicycle and electric motorbike services.
Cars entering the city centre are likely to have topay toll.
The department in its letter also mentions solutions for urbanplanning and management, funding and use of information technology to supportthe development of public transport.
It will turn to detailed plans and means for funding after thedraft plan is approved.
Around 47.6 trillion VND (2 billion USD) for the plan will comefrom public funding and the rest from private investors and ODA./.
VNA
