Perfecting the public passenger transport network

The Department of Transport has just put into operation 5 subsidized bus routes in phase 2 to continue completing the public passenger transport network, meeting people's travel needs.

People take subsidized buses. Photo: PHUONG UYEN

Mr. Ho Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Director of the Traffic Signal and Public Transport Operation Center (Datramac), said that in addition to the 6 bus routes currently in operation, the city has just put 5 more subsidized bus routes into operation, bringing the entire bus network to 11 bus routes with 2 different operating units. "Hopefully, the subsidized bus system in Da Nang will solve current difficulties and operate stably, attracting passengers so that public transport can increasingly develop, contributing to building a convenient, safe and civilized Da Nang city" - Mr. Cuong said. Through actual surveys, it shows that the quality of subsidized public transport services has been improved, such as reopening 5 old routes, increasing the number of vehicles... especially Da Nang has more units operating new subsidized bus routes, thereby attracting people to use this service.

Ms. Ho Thi Ngoc Anh (Hoa Tien commune, Hoa Vang district) said: "My workplace is on Duy Tan street, so I often take bus route number 4 to travel from home to work. Because my office job does not require much travel, I find choosing the bus as a means of transportation quite convenient and economical." Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong expressed that since the city reopened 5 subsidized bus routes in phase 2, including route number 11 (Xuan Dieu bus station - Da Nang Maternity and Children's Hospital), she has completely stopped riding a motorbike and switched to using the bus to go to work on Le Van Hien street (Ngu Hanh Son district).

According to the Department of Transport, in the context of increasing pressure on urban traffic in the city, bus operations have affirmed their role as an effective form of public transport with high transport capacity. However, recently, especially in early June and July, more than 100 workers at the unit operating 6 old bus routes went on strike due to prolonged unpaid wages and insurance, leading to the paralysis of the bus system in Da Nang city. The above incident has happened many times but there has not been a thorough solution, causing many people who regularly use bus routes to travel, especially students, to be quite worried.

“The city’s transport sector has held many meetings to discuss solutions to ensure bus operations meet people’s needs while ensuring the rights of related workers. By continuing to put 5 bus routes into operation and selecting a new operator, we are making overall adjustments to the city’s entire Danabus subsidized bus system to operate more effectively,” said Bui Hong Trung, Director of the Department of Transport.

In fact, the number of people using this type of transport is still small, so some bus routes are almost empty. This has affected revenue, affecting the payment of salaries and insurance of businesses. This is also a common difficulty of many subsidized bus routes today. Faced with this situation, the Department of Transport has coordinated with departments, branches, sectors and People's Committees of districts to support and create the best conditions for the operating units from the acceptance stage, timely settlement of subsidy funds on time, promoting propaganda and mobilizing people to participate in traffic by bus instead of personal vehicles...

At the opening ceremony of the 5 subsidized bus routes in phase 2, the department's leaders affirmed that the Da Nang subsidized bus system in phase 2 is operated by FUTA Bus Lines, a company with extensive experience in passenger transport. Phase 2 will be the premise for the department to continue researching and surveying types of public passenger transport in the period from now to 2030.

To continue affirming that public passenger transport by bus plays a key role and is a strategic task of urban areas in overcoming traffic congestion, curbing traffic accidents and reducing environmental pollution; as an effective form of transport with high transport capacity, the Department of Transport has been and is continuing to coordinate with departments, branches and sectors to advise the City Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee to continue implementing a number of solutions to select capable contractors to continue putting bus routes into operation; at the same time, reviewing and adjusting bus routes towards approaching attractive places such as schools, hospitals, commercial service centers... In addition, continuing to promote propaganda and mobilization of people to participate in traffic by bus instead of personal vehicles.

THANH LAN

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