(VNF) – Several proposals have been made to increase the number of students travelling by bus in Ho Chi Minh City, since local authorities eye at least 15-20 percent of school children taking this mode of public transport by 2020.

In order to hit the target, the Management and Operation Center for Public Transport, have proposed the city People's Commttee to increase subsidization for bus and increase more buses to pick up students in outlying districts.

In details, the Center recommended ticket subsidizes to be increased to VND 3,968 per trip for intra-city travel and VND 4,587 in Can Gio district (the current rates are VND 2,830 and VND 3,537).

The proposal aims to encourage transport operators to buy new buses and improve their services, said Tran Chi Trung, the center’s director.

Photo for illustration (source: SGGP)

Meanwhile, the Department of Transport suggested the city to provide interest-free loans for 10 years worth 70 percent of the cost of a bus to operators.

In addition, the department has worked with the Department of Education and Training to ensure traffic safety in school areas, especially during peak hours.

There are also suggestions on adding other means of transports, improving bus quality and information of the benefit of using bus to students and parents.

Encouraging students to use public buses is a great way to reduce traffic jams and pollution in urban zone like HCMC. However, last year, the number of students travelling by public transport in the city failed to hit the target. Only 36,700 students traveled by bus while the city’s targeted 40,000. The figure was 10 percent down from 2016./.

( VNF )