[sustran] buses in BKK & HCMC

[Craig Townsend]

WB loan for bus agency turned down

BANGKOK, Nov 21 Bangkok Post - Transport and Communications Minister Suthep
Thaugsuban has rejected a World Bank loan offer of $5 million for the
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to conduct a study on privatisation,
reasoning that the agency is already heavily indebted.

Yanyong Kurowat, the BMTA director, said Mr Suthep, is chairman of a
committee on the establishment of an organisation to control and supervise
privatisation of the city bus agency.

Since the government is conducting a study on the establishment of a
central organisation to supervise all modes of land transport, the BMTA had
proposed that the Transport and Communications Ministry seek a grant from
the World Bank for this purpose instead, Mr Yanyong said.

The BMTA's problems include its inability to collect 70-80 million baht
debt from operators of about 2,000 buses under franchise contracts.

Thonburi Prakorbyon Co, which operates airport buses, is also 2.9 million
baht in debt with the BMTA as it is operating at a loss.

The company, however, can still remain in operation because its has its own
buses and repair garages. Moreover, it has 13 more years to go under a
15-year contract.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------

Ho Chi Minh City Plan Aims to Get People Back on the Buses

HANOI, Nov 23 Asia Pulse - In an attempt to ease traffic congestion, cut
pollution and reduce the number of accidents on the roads, Ho Chi Minh
City's public transport plans to refurbish dilapidated vehicles to
encourage people to use public transport. As the city's roads become more
hazardous and congested transport authorities say they plan to increase the
use of buses from five per cent of the population to 30 per cent in the
next few years.Nearly 1,000 tri-wheeled Lambrettas will be changed into
mini-buses and 700 large buses converted to 1,700 medium-sized buses. A new
fleet of 12-25 seater vehicles will also help improve traffic flow.
France's RATP bus company will set up a joint venture with 100-seater buses
travelling four routes. Officials say buses are unpopular because they are
old and uncomfortable, with some having been in operation for 25 years. The
city has now 500 buses plying more than 30 routes. It is estimated that
only 120 buses being run by the Saigon Star and Saigon passenger bus
companies are up-to-date.

Local people's preference for private transport - there are more than two
million motorbikes in the city - has also contributed to the inefficiency
of the public bus system. But to encourage more use of public transport, 
authorities have proposed that those who own buses and cars used for public
travel be given tax breaks and preferential interest rate bank loans to
renovate their old vehicles. They will also be encouraged to use 12 seater
vehicles suited to the city's streets.

(VNA) 

________________________________________________
Craig Townsend
Institute for Sustainability & Technology Policy
Murdoch University
South Street, Murdoch
Perth, Western Australia 6150

tel: (61 8) 9360 6293
fax: (61 8) 9360 6421
email: townsend at central.murdoch.edu.au