Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City), Vietnam is to spend around US$10 million annually in a four-year project to upgrade its bus transport system, according to the Department of Transport.
Around 1,680 new buses will be purchased, including 350 units that are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Department of Transport deputy director, Duong Hong Thanh, said “CNG buses, which are cheaper and cleaner, would help improve the environment and save about 35-40 per cent of costs compared to diesel buses.” The first two CNG buses were introduced last year and have shown good results.
The city is also to launch a trial that involves using smart cards to pay for bus fares starting January 2013 under the plan.
The cards will initially be issued on certain routes to evaluate passenger interest, and will be extended to all bus routes over the year, expanding in later years to metro routes.
Phan Minh Tan, director of the Department of Science and Technology, said, "efforts are on to make cards that are convenient to use, do not deteriorate, and are not too expensive."
Around 1,680 new buses will be purchased, including 350 units that are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). Department of Transport deputy director, Duong Hong Thanh, said “CNG buses, which are cheaper and cleaner, would help improve the environment and save about 35-40 per cent of costs compared to diesel buses.” The first two CNG buses were introduced last year and have shown good results.
The city is also to launch a trial that involves using smart cards to pay for bus fares starting January 2013 under the plan.
The cards will initially be issued on certain routes to evaluate passenger interest, and will be extended to all bus routes over the year, expanding in later years to metro routes.
Phan Minh Tan, director of the Department of Science and Technology, said, "efforts are on to make cards that are convenient to use, do not deteriorate, and are not too expensive."
