The city plans to add 6 new inner-city bus routes with subsidised fares in an effort to promote public transportation beginning in the 2^nd quarter of this year.

New buses are rolled out for use on routes with subsidised fares, aimed at promoting public transit use in the city. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

The municipal Department of Transport said the 6 new public bus routes will have new 40-seat buses in total connecting such major mass commuter destinations as the former Han River Port, the inter-provincial coach station, the Marble Mountains Tourism Area, the 29 March  Park, the Hi-Tech Park, and the Viet Nam-Korea Friendship Information Technology Junior College.

Tickets cost 5,000 VND (0.2 US$) per trip, or 90,000 VND (4US$) for a monthly package. People with disabilities, students, workers in local industrial parts as well as underprivileged people will enjoy a 50% discount.

Last year, the city, in cooperation with the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), launched 61 new 50-seat busses on 5 routes operating every 20 minutes between 5.00am until 9.00pm.

The addition means that Da Nang will operate a total of 11 public bus routes with subsidised fares, offering workers, students and local residents more options to utilise safe and environmentally-friendly transit. 

The new bus routes will help boost the city’s internal bus services by offering public car parking areas, bus stops and shuttle bus routes connecting residential quarters and public destinations.

The city also offered bus tracking apps on mobile devices for commuters as well as wireless internet service on the bus.

The new bus routes are part of the city’s 2016 - 2020 public transportation development that aims to reduce the use of personal cars and motorbikes.

Da Nang plans to introduce three of their first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and a BRT route connecting the city’s International Airport with favourite destinations in Hoi An City in neighbouring Quang Nam Province.

Da Nang currently operates 5 bus routes in total from the city to the cities of Hoi An and Tam Ky, and the districts of Duy Xuyen, Que Son and Dai Loc in Quang Nam Province.

The World Bank agreed to support Da Nang in improving the city’s BRT network, building new roads and revamping the drainage system.

Locals make 2.1 million journeys each day, of which 80% are via motorbike, according to the city’s Transport Department.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)