Lang Cha Ca intersection in HCM City’s Tan Binh District. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City authorities have decided to develop the PublicTransport Management and Operation Centre into an agency that will useintegrated solutions in public transport management instead of establishing acompletely new agency.
The aim is toimprove the management of public transport in the city, especially after thefirst metro line Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien is put into operation in 2020, cityauthorities said.
Speaking at aconference on setting up a new public transport agency on February 24, theDepartment of Transport said it would research the development of a project toset up a Public Transport Agency (PTA) in the city.
The project, to bedeveloped by the Department of Transport’s Urban Traffic Board, aims to createa consistent management system of various public transport modes across thecity.
A representative ofthe World Bank said HCM City needed an agency that would consistently managethe public transport system, including bus, metro and bus rapid transit (BRT).
For example, withonly one public transport card, the holders could access all modes of publictransport.
In the long run, theagency would be able to operate the public transport of the entire region, asmany European countries do, when the public transport in HCM City is connectedwith surrounding provinces.
However, Le Van Lam,deputy director of the Department of Internal Affairs, disagreed with the ideaof setting up a new agency, saying, “The idea is not feasible as the city hasplanned staff cutbacks at State-owned companies.”
He recommended thatthe Department of Transport develop the Public Transport Management andOperation Centre into the new agency.
The department cansend staff from other relevant agencies to support the centre playing a newrole, he said.
Le Hoang Minh,deputy director of the Department of Transport, said the department wanted todevelop a PTA as in developed countries. However, it isdifficult to develop a new agency as it requires many changes in the currentsystem, especially the law, he said.
“The department haschosen the centre as a core agency to be developed into a new agency with newroles and functions to manage the public transport system of the city,” Minhnoted. - VNA
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Lang Cha Ca intersection in HCM City’s Tan Binh District. (Photo: VNA) 
