(VNF) - Ho Chi Minh city’s first river bus route, running 11 kilometers through districts 1 and 2, Binh Thanh and Thu Duc districts, will officially begin operation in late August, with the expected ticket of VND15,000 each turn.

Preparations for the first river bus route completed (Photo: VNA)

After nearly eight years of discussion and preparation, the river bus route No.1 which is set to connect Bach Dang Port in District 1 with Linh Dong Ward in Thu Duc District has been put into operation.

The river bus route uses five boats, with one boat in reserve, providing 80 seats each, aiming to cut down the number of vehicles on its increasingly jammed roads.

Each boat will travel the route in 30 minutes and stop at seven stations.

According to Nguyen Kim Toan, Director of Thuong Nhat Company, the investor of the river bus project, preparations for the official operation have been completed.

In the contract between the Ho Chi Minh city Department of Transport and Thuong Nhat Company signed on May 31^st, apart from the first river bus route, the second route with a length of over 10 kilometers going through districts 1, 4, 5, 6 and 8 will also be built, with investment capital for the two routes of over VND120 billion.

The construction of the second route stretching from Bach Dang to Lo Gom in District 8, measuring 10.3 kilometers, is anticipated to begin in 2018.

With 1,000 kilometers of river routes and 112 waterway channels, the new bus routes are expected to promote waterways traffic and tourism potential in the city.

Earlier, in June, local residents in HCM.City expressed positive feedback upon hearing about the upcoming maiden river bus route.

Nguyen Minh Phong, a student from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, expressed his joy at the new form of transportation.

“My house in District 2 is only 20 minutes away from the school. However, I’m often late for class due to serious traffic jams,” Phong said.

“I will absolutely switch to using the river ‘bus’ to avoid the jams as well as smoke and dust on the road,” he continued.

A map detailing the nine stops of the river bus route No.1 that connects District 1 and Thu Duc District. (Photo: Zing)

Nguyen Thi Huyen Mi, a law student, said she could not wait to get on the waterway bus.

“It will be a great convenience as my school is located near the Bach Dang Port,” Mi elaborated.

According to Nguyen Kim Toan, director of Thuong Nhat Company, which is the investor of the river bus project, the new transport system has to meet a variety of requirements regarding aesthetics, convenience, and punctuality.

Aside from providing a comfortable journey and sightseeing opportunity, these buses have to be on time in order to retain passengers, Toan stated./.

( VNF )