HCM CITY — HCM City’s Department of Transport has proposed to the city’s authority to begin the operation of electric buses to transport tourists from wharfs to hotels or tourism sites.

The department suggested that the project be implemented on a trial basis from this month. The move is aimed at promoting waterway transport via eco-friendly vehicles and reducing traffic congestion.

The department said since early this year, three electric bus routes have been put into use as a trial in HCM City centre, Phú Mỹ Hưng urban area and along Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal, serving between 800 and 1,000 passengers each day.

As the service has received support from both local residents and tourists, the department has proposed more buses to transport tourists from the city’s wharfs to their hotels or well-known tourism sites.

The bus would pick up passengers from wharfs to some hotels such as New World, Sheraton, Rex and Majestic, as well as Renaissance Riverside, Park Hyatt and Continental Saigon or to tourism sites, including Bến Thành Market, Fine Art Museum, Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street and Metro An Phú Supermarket, as well as Minh Đăng Quang Institute, Parkson Cantavil Tower and some residential areas.

The department said that it has worked with Thường Nhật Co Ltd, the company in charge of carrying out the bus routes, to adjust the routes connecting wharfs to hotels and tourism sites to avoid traffic chaos. All the buses would not be allowed to park on the pavement or roads.

The department said that it has got support from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city police, the people’s committees of districts 1 and 2, the Urban Traffic Management No 11 and the Centre for Public Transport Management and Operation.

The Department of Transport would guide the implementation of the bus routes this month, if the idea was approved.

Early this year, the city had approved a pilot project using several 12-seat electronic buses on short-distance routes from 5am to 10pm, to serve local residents and tourists.

The first route operates in District 1, connecting 23/9 Park, Phạm Ngũ Lão, Công Trường Mê Linh and Hai Bà Trưng streets, and Sài Gòn Zoo. There are 11 electronic buses on this route.

The second route, which consists of five buses, runs in the Phú Mỹ Hưng urban area in District 7. Buses stop by Phạm Văn Nghị, Tân Phú, Hoàng Văn Thái and nearby streets.

Three electronic buses run along Nhiêu Lộc – Thị Nghè Canal, starting from District 1’s Đa Kao Ward and ending in District 3’s Ward 7. — VNS