The central city of Đà Nẵng planned to ban over 30-seat buses from the downtown area during rush hour to reduce alarming congestion in the first quarter of 2019, director of the city’s transport department Lê Văn Trung said.

Coaches parked at a site in Đà Nẵng’s downtown in rush hour. The city plans to ban the operation of 45-seat coach in the city centre during rush hour to ease congestion.

He said the city had limited the operation of over 30-seat buses between April and December and it had gradually helped to ease traffic jams.

Trung said 45-seat coaches, which were mostly operated by travel agencies, often caused congestion between 5pm and 6.30pm.

The city does not have enough parking areas for coaches and buses.

image: http://image.vietnamnews.vn//uploadvnnews/Article/2019/1/24/busmuitran1979860458PM.jpg

Tourists enjoy an open-top bus in Đà Nẵng.— VNS Photo Công Thành

The city will expand the ban for buses and coaches at popular tourist destinations, such as Hàn Market, the city’s administrative centre, the Chăm sculpture museum and Đà Nẵng Museum.

Trung said the city would ask travel agencies to only offer rides to these destinations after rush hour, while boosting the operation of public buses.

According the city’s transport department, six new inner-city bus routes with subsidised fares will be added in the second quarter of 2019, increasing the number to 11.

The routes will have new 40-seat buses connecting major mass commuter destinations including Hàn Port, the 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.

image: http://image.vietnamnews.vn//uploadvnnews/Article/2019/1/24/businner97955948PM.jpg

A new public bus route uses 29-seat buses to transport tourists and local residents in Đà Nẵng’s downtown.— VNS Photo Công Thành

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

In 2018, the city, in co-operation with Toyota Mobility Foundation, launched 61 new 40-seat buses on five routes operating between 5am until 9pm each day.

The city’s population of 900,000 has far outgrown the current public bus system, which has just 48 buses on five routes, meeting just 10 per cent of demand.

More than 7.6 million tourists, including 2.9 million foreigners, visited the city in 2018. — VNS