Yangon gets first-ever regular bus network
Myanmar launched a new public transport system in its business hub and largest city of Yangon on January 16, the first such network providing regular bus lines with salaried drivers and personnel and even timetables and consistently marked stations for the convenience of the city’s five million inhabitants, almost half of which are on a daily commute.
The new network would reduce the hardship of traveling across the city and the chaos and hazardous competition among private bus lines as the number of routes has been reduced to 61 from some 300 privately operated lines.
More lines might be added in light of the experience with the new system, the government said. However, there will be no more licenses granted to private operators, and the existing operators have been invited to become part of the new system. This also should bring down the number of currently 3,700 buses in the city, many of them in service for more than 20 years.
New buses will be deployed and registered ones equipped with CNG tanks to run on compressed natural gas provided by the city.
As part of the overhaul, the government is setting up the Yangon Region Transport Authority to manage a group of bus companies who would form a new public-private partnership. Eight private companies are already on board.
In a next step, the network will be equipped with an electronic payment system, as well as CCTV and GPS, and the number of currently 41 CNG filling stations in Yangon will be increased. There will also be a call center for commuters seeking transport information in addition to a smartphone application. Buses run from early morning until 10pm, and fares are range from 100 to 300 kyat ($0.07 to 0.21) except for very long routes that go outside of Yangon.
Myanmar launched a new public transport system in its business hub and largest city of Yangon on January 16, the first such network providing regular bus lines with salaried drivers and personnel and even timetables and consistently marked stations for the convenience of the city's five million inhabitants, almost half of which are on a daily commute. The new network would reduce the hardship of traveling across the city and the chaos and hazardous competition among private bus lines as the number of routes has been reduced to 61 from some 300 privately operated lines. More lines might be added...
Myanmar launched a new public transport system in its business hub and largest city of Yangon on January 16, the first such network providing regular bus lines with salaried drivers and personnel and even timetables and consistently marked stations for the convenience of the city’s five million inhabitants, almost half of which are on a daily commute.
The new network would reduce the hardship of traveling across the city and the chaos and hazardous competition among private bus lines as the number of routes has been reduced to 61 from some 300 privately operated lines.
More lines might be added in light of the experience with the new system, the government said. However, there will be no more licenses granted to private operators, and the existing operators have been invited to become part of the new system. This also should bring down the number of currently 3,700 buses in the city, many of them in service for more than 20 years.
New buses will be deployed and registered ones equipped with CNG tanks to run on compressed natural gas provided by the city.
As part of the overhaul, the government is setting up the Yangon Region Transport Authority to manage a group of bus companies who would form a new public-private partnership. Eight private companies are already on board.
In a next step, the network will be equipped with an electronic payment system, as well as CCTV and GPS, and the number of currently 41 CNG filling stations in Yangon will be increased. There will also be a call center for commuters seeking transport information in addition to a smartphone application. Buses run from early morning until 10pm, and fares are range from 100 to 300 kyat ($0.07 to 0.21) except for very long routes that go outside of Yangon.
