HO CHI MINH CITY PLANS BRT SYSTEM
During a seminar organised in Vietnam to discuss creating a rapid transit network in Ho Chi Minh City, delegates proposed that the city needs a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which would lower air pollution and operate at faster speeds than normal buses. At least five years and US$5 million for each km is needed to create the BRT system.
This is compared with 10 years and US$40 million per km for an underground system. Demand for public transport is growing in Ho Chi Minh City and six skytrain routes and three underground routes are planned to be created in the city. The first metro project in the city will be completed in 2015 at a projected cost of US$1.1 billion.
Meanwhile, on the roads, there are plans to impose a toll fee on cars that enter Ho Chi Minh City. The government has appointed UK consultancy company WSP Group and local firm Innovative Technology Development to create an Electronic Road Pricing system to reduce the city's traffic congestion. The proposal, which will be submitted to the government next month, involves a toll collection zone will be established by creating a boundary around the city centre. The city has 400,000 cars, excluding 12,000 taxis. The plan is to charge each motorist a fee of US$2 if they enter the city.
