Construction of the first two rapid-transit bus routes will begin in Hanoi next month to improve transport infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion.
‘Green’ buses to hit the road HCM City to permit advertising on public buses Bus falls off bridge: 36 dead, 23 injured The US$115 million project is being undertaken by the city's Transport Department with a loan from the World Bank.
The first route over 17km will start at Ba Dinh District's Giang Vo Street and end at Ha Dong District's Yen Nghia Bus Station.
The 11km second route will start at Thanh Tri District's Van Dien Township and end at Hoan Kiem District's Hoan Kiem Lake.
According to the World Bank, the project should have begun in 2008, but was delayed for three years. Disbursement so far amounts to $21.8 million.
Nguyen Quoc Hung, director of the department, said difficulties in land clearance and changes in the city's administrative boundaries were to blame for the delay.
City mayor Nguyen The Thao said the two rapid-transit bus routes are expected to open to traffic early next year.
Statistics from the Ministry of Transport show that Hanoi now has more than 1,200 buses running on 84 routes and carrying 1.1 million of passengers daily.