The move came after a newly built bus shelter on Pasteur Street in Sai Gon Ward was spray-painted in early September, including graffiti across its seating area.
The city has been installing modern bus stops and shelters as part of efforts to improve public transport infrastructure and passenger facilities.
The department said graffiti at bus stops, shelters and other public spaces had been a persistent problem, while enforcement had so far failed to provide an effective deterrent.
Vandalism of transport infrastructure increases maintenance costs, damages public property and detracts from the urban environment, it said.
“New facilities being defaced soon after opening affects the image and quality of public transport and causes frustration among passengers and local residents,” a department representative said.
The department asked HCM City police to investigate the Pasteur Street case and similar incidents and take action against those responsible under existing regulations.
It said stricter enforcement was needed to protect public property and deter further vandalism.
HCM City began offering free travel on 134 bus routes on July 1. The routes carried more than 19.7 million passenger trips between July 1 and September 5, up 48 per cent from a year earlier.
The rise points to stronger demand for bus services since the free-fare policy was introduced.
The city plans to continue building and upgrading bus stops and shelters in 2026-27, as well as modernising existing facilities at Sai Gon and Cho Lon bus stations.
It also plans multi-storey car parks at Sai Gon, Cho Lon and Tan Phu bus stations to increase capacity across the public transport network.
Since late July, the HCM City Public Transport Management Centre has installed shelters at bus stops connecting with Metro Line No. 1 stations and upgraded others to improve access to public transport.
