Passenger buses park at the Miền Tây (Western) Bus Station in HCM City’s Bình Tân District. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Transport has banned sleeper buses from entering the city centre between 6am and 10pm in an effort to crack down on picking up and dropping off passengers illegally.

The move is expected to reduce traffic jams and ensure traffic safety and order during the year-end increase in transport demand, especially for the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Accordingly, sleeper buses are not allowed to enter the off-limits area within National Highway 1A, Nguyễn Văn Linh, Võ Chí Công, Nguyễn Thị Định, Đồng Văn Cống, Mai Chí Thọ and Hà Nội Highway during the time limitation mentioned above.

This area has been off limits for cargo trucks since 2018.

However, sleeper buses are permitted to travel on those roads without any time limitation on their way to the new Miền Đông (Eastern) Bus Station in Thủ Đức City and Miền Tây (Western) Bus Station in Bình Tân District on fixed routes regulated by the transport department.

The Department of Transport will consider adjusting the time limitation depending on traffic conditions.

The city now has about 60 companies providing passenger transport services on inter-provincial fixed routes with nearly 1,600 vehicles, while more than 1,350 firms provide over 90,800 contract cars and tourist cars.

So far, there are more than 49,200 fixed-route passenger buses operating in the city, including about 1,100 sleeper buses from 22 to 44 beds. In addition, more than 1,600 sleeper buses travel from other provinces to the city's bus stations.

The sleeper buses traveling to and from the city are only allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at five bus stations: An Sương Bus Station in Hóc Môn District, Ngã Tư Ga Bus Station in District 12, new Miền Đông Bus Station, old Miền Đông Bus Station in Bình Thạnh District and Miền Tây Bus Station.

However, many sleeper buses have been discovered picking up and dropping off passengers at illegal locations.

The department’s traffic inspectors have identified 76 locations across the city where passenger transport services often pick up or drop off passengers illegally, mostly in Thủ Đức city, and districts of 5, 10, 12, Bình Tân and Tân Phú.

They also work with localities to monitor these locations and punish violations to ensure smoother and safer traffic. — VNS