The central city’s Department of Transport said the six new public bus routes will have new 40-seat buses connecting major mass commuter destinations including the Han Port, central bus station, Non Nuoc tourism site, March 29 Park, Hi-Tech Park and Vietnam-Korea College in the districts of Hai Chau, Ngu Hanh Son, Hoa Vang, Son Tra and Lien Chieu.
Tickets cost 5,000 VND (0.2 USD) per trip, or 90,000 VND (4 USD) for a monthly package. People with disabilities, students, workers in industrial zones as well as underprivileged people will get a 50 percent discount.
Last year, the city, in co-operation with Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), launched 61 new 50-seat busses on five routes operating every 20 minutes between 5am until 9pm.
The addition means that Da Nang will operate 11 public bus routes with subsidised fares, offering workers, students and local residents more options to utilise safe and environmentally-friendly transit. The new bus routes will help boost the city’s internal bus services by offering public car parking areas, bus stops and shuttle bus routes connecting residential quarters and public destinations.
The city also offered bus tracking apps on mobile devices for commuters as well as wireless internet service on the bus.
The new bus routes are part of the city’s 2016-20 public transportation development that aims to reduce the use of personal cars and motorbikes.
Da Nang plans to introduce three of their first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and a BRT route connecting the Da Nang International Airport with favourite destinations in Hoi An city in neighbouring Quang Nam Province.
Da Nang currently operates five bus routes from the city to Quang Nam province’s cities and districts, including Hoi An, Duy Xuyen, Que Son, Dai Loc and Tam Ky.
The World Bank agreed to support Da Nang in improving the city’s BRT network, building new roads and revamping the drainage system.
Locals make 2.1 million journeys each day, of which 80 percent are via motorbike, according to the city’s transport department.
