VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City Public Transport Management Centre has proposed raising the bus fares by VND1,000 (4 US cents) to recover the costs of purchasing new buses.

Passengers get on a bus on Ham Nghi Street, HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

Accordingly, the fare will rise from VND5,000 to VND6,000 on buses travelling a distance of less than 18km, and from VND6,000 to VND7,000 on routes extending beyond 18km.

Students, however, will enjoy the universal discount fares of VND2,000 on all public buses.

Public Transport Management Centre Director Tran Chi Trung said the fare increase was “a necessary move”.

“It will help balance the investment in new buses and cut the State budget spending for subsidies,” Trung said.

He also guaranteed that the fare rise would accompany an improvement in the service, saying the centre was planning to use an e-ticket system on HCM City’s buses.

Source: VNS