A bus station in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Smart bus cards are now piloted in Ho Chi Minh City after a launching ceremony was held in the southern metropolis on March 8.
The pilot programme is orientated towards non-cash payments and the use of a single payment card for all public transport types in the city, according to Tran Quang Lam, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Transport.
The use of e-tickets is in line with the city’s smart urban building plan, as well as the world’s public transport development trend, he said, adding that the pilot programme is scheduled to last one year.
The smart cards will first be applied on route No.86 running from Ben Thanh to Ton Duc Thang University, said Director of the city’s Management and Operation Centre for Public Transport Tran Chi Trung.
The municipal People’s Committee on February 12, 2019 issued a document approving the transport department’s proposal to allow the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade and Zion JSC to pilot automatic bus fare payments using corporate funding.
During the 2018-2020 period, HCM City will focus on developing its public transportation system, which is expected to meet 15 percent of residents’ transport needs by 2020.
The city will also expand public bus routes that connect to new urban areas and industrial parks in the city, and link the Tan Son Nhat International Airport with neighbouring provinces.
New bus routes to transfer students to schools and universities across the city will also be established.
The city has prioritised public transport, including new bus stations and upgrading old ones, installing supervisory systems at stations, and setting up motorbike parking lots for passengers who use public transport.
It expects to complete the use of smart cards for all public buses by 2020. –VNA
VNA
