The Ha Noi Transport Services Corporation has suggested raising bus ticket prices by 40-80 percent.
 |
| Cau Giay bus station in Ha Noi during rush hour |
Nguyen Phi Thuong, corporation general director, said that if approved, the city would reduce its bus services subsidy worth VND224 billion (USD10.7 million) each year.
Such a move would create an opportunity to improve bus service quality, especially during rush hours when public transport was often overloaded, he said.
According to Thuong, the city has not raised bus ticket prices since 2005 while operation costs per kilometre have risen significantly in the meantime, necessitating a higher Government subsidy.
"The city's gross domestic product per capita is currently 1.7 times higher than previously," he said.
The proposed plan entails bus tickets being priced at VND5,000 (USD0.24) instead of VND3,000 (USD0.14) for a distance below 25km and VND7,000 instead of VND5,000 for trips over 25km.
With regards to monthly bus tickets, passengers would pay VND90,000 (USD4) for a single trip and VND145,000 (USD7) for multiple trips instead of VND50,000-80,000 (USD2.5-4).
Those travelling on concession fares would pay VND45,000 (USD2) for a single trip and VND90,000 (USD4) for multiple trips instead of VND25,000-50,000 (USD1-2).
Tran Ngoc Tai, a second-year student at the Banking Academy and a regular bus passenger, said, "The proposed increase in bus ticket prices is acceptable, but would still affect students, especially those who hail from provinces and rent houses during their time at university."
Dao Thi Hanh, 45, a housewife from Hai Ba Trung District, said she wondered whether the quality of bus services would improve following the price increase.
"It will be a good thing if the quality of bus services was made better," she said.
Recently, passengers have complained about pick pocketing on buses, some of which often stop at the wrong stations, pass certain stops and carry misbehaving drivers and assistants.
In response, Thuong said that Transerco has teamed up with local police to arrest and fine pickpockets at local stations.
Accordingly, a bonus was established to encourage morale amongst corporation staff working under high pressure, a factor seen as leading to misconduct.
The corporation planned to improve the quality of bus services from now until 2020, he added.
At present, all company buses are periodically maintained under the ISO 9001:2000 standard.
In the coming time, our buses would have additional seats for children, women and the disabled, Thuong said.
We have also set up two switchboards to answer passenger questions and complaints, he added.
Transerco statistics show that one bus transported 1,150 passengers in 2011 daily, while the number was only 120 passengers in 2001.
