An illegal coach station in HCM City (Photo: antoangiaothong.gov.vn) HCM City (VNA) - The HCM City government has urgedthe Department of Transport to crack down on illegally operating passengerbuses and stations, following requests from authorised transport firms in thecity.
Le Van Khoa, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, has asked thedepartment to improve service quality, build more transit bus stations, createa new legal framework and enforce fines.
In addition, the department must review the operation of passenger buses andstations and respond to authorised transport firms operating in the city, hesaid.
For many years, illegal buses have been a serious problem for the city’stransport industry because they have caused a loss of revenue as they are cheaperthan public buses.
Unauthorised coaches are not regulated well and are seen as less safe thanpassenger buses authorised to operate by the city authorities.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the city has more than 2,000 authorisedcoaches with fixed routes, 2,797 buses and 10,790 taxis. More than 12,465coaches are used for tourist transport.
In HCM City, more than 30 illegal coach stations and hundreds of coaches departfrom the city to provinces, transporting more than 10,000 passengers each day.
A representative from the Department of Transport said that passenger and cargotransport had developed quickly in HCM City, the country’s major economic hub.
Most unauthorised coach stations are located near markets, trans-provincialcoach stations and urban areas, he said, adding that drivers of illegal coachespick up passengers at spots near their homes or at sites listed on theinternet.
Licensed coaches, however, pick up and drop off passengers at bus terminals andother authorised spots.
Khoa also urged the Inspectorate of the Department of Transport to conduct moreinspections of illegally operating buses.
Illegal bus drivers and owners earn high revenueas they do not pay a fee to use official stations or pay tax.
Unauthorised buses and stations create unfair competition in the transportindustry and worsen public security, and create losses to the State budget.
When accidents occur, insurance or compensation benefits for passengers arereduced, said Le Trung Tinh, Chairman of the Passenger Transport and TourismAssociation.
Transport companies recently asked local authorities to set up a task force tocheck and fine all unlicensed transport companies with illegal stations.-VNA
VNA
