Illustrative image (Photo courtesy of tuoitre.vn)

The southern largest economic hub has piloted electronic cards on ninecrowded routes that pass through universities.

The municipal Department of Transport expects this programme to helpincrease the number of young people using buses.

The Centre for Public Transport Management will monitor and makerequisite changes to the programme.

Tran Quang Lam, Director of the municipal Department of Transport, saidthe goal is that buses would play a key role in transport in the city by 2020.

HCM City has also studied the use of electric buses and boats andimproved service quality on buses and bus infrastructure.

Nguyen Duc Tri, Deputy Director of the Centre for Public TransportManagement, said to achieve the target of 15-20 percent of people using busesby 2020, the city plans to have dedicated bus lanes on Dien Bien Phu and Vo ThiSau streets in district 3, both highly congested during rush hours.

The bus lanes are expected to put into use later this year, he said.-VNA