ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city plans to add more six inner-city bus routes with subsidised fares in an effort to promote public transportation beginning in the second quarter of this year.

The central city’s Department of Transport said the six new public bus routes will have new 40-seat buses connecting major mass commuter destinations including the Hàn Port, central bus station, Non Nước tourism site, March 29th Park, Hi-Tech Park and Việt Nam-Korea College in the districts of Hải Châu, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Hòa Vang, Sơn Trà and Liên Chiểu.

Tickets cost VNĐ5,000 (US$0.2) per trip, or VNĐ90,000 ($4) for a monthly package. People with disabilities, students, workers in industrial zones as well as underprivileged people will get a 50 per cent discount.

Last year, the city, in co-operation with Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), launched 61 new 50-seat busses on five routes operating every 20 minutes between 5am until 9pm.

The addition means that Đà Nẵng will operate 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 2016-20 public transportation development that aims to reduce the use of personal cars and motorbikes.

Đà Nẵng plans to introduce three of their first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and a BRT route connecting the Đà Nẵng International Airport with favourite destinations in Hội An City in neighbouring Quảng Nam Province.

Đà Nẵng currently operates five bus routes from the city to Quảng Nam Province cities and districts, including Hội An, Duy Xuyên, Quế Sơn, Đại Lộc and Tam Kỳ.

The World Bank agreed to support Đà Nẵng 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 per cent are via motorbike, according to the city’s transport department. — VNS