A VinFast electric bus on a test drive. Photo thanhnien.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City has received approval from the Government to operate electric buses on regular public routes.

It has been instructed to work with various ministries and other agencies to finalise economic-technical criteria for the buses and pricing.

Its People’s Committee last month sought permission from the Government to operate 77 electric buses on five routes for a two-year trial period.

The electric buses with 65-70 seats will be operated by conglomerate Vingroup during the trial period, but in future the operators will be chosen through tender.

Nine new bus stations, a depot and a 12,200sq.m parking lot at Vinhome Grand Park in Thủ Đức City will be built by the company.

The five routes will be from Vinhome Grand Park to E-mart supermarket, Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, Sài Gòn Bus Station, the new Miền Đông (Eastern) Bus Station, and the Việt Nam National University-HCM City campus.

The city will make an assessment at the end of the trial period.

Public transportation currently meets only 9.2 per cent of demand in the city, according to the Department of Transport.

The city has been seeking to develop public passenger transport and earmarked VNĐ500 trillion (US$21.6 million) for it. —VNS