Need to improve the quality of bus service

(Baonghean) -Vehicles do not meet standards; the number, frequency of running, stopping, parking, picking up and dropping off passengers are not in accordance with regulations; speeding... These things show that the passenger transport service by bus in Nghe An has many problems that need to be promptly rectified.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan in Yen Thanh Town complained: “I often take the bus on the Vinh - Yen Thanh route. I see that the buses are overloaded. On the hottest days, the buses do not turn on the air conditioner. The hygiene inside the buses is not guaranteed, creating a stuffy and uncomfortable atmosphere. Many buses also carry bulky goods. The buses are of poor quality and do not run on time. Sometimes the drivers drive very carelessly, making passengers very worried…” Passengers complaining about the quality of bus services has been going on for a long time and has become a “daily” occurrence, but the authorities have yet to find a timely solution to handle and rectify the situation.

The pick-up point at Nghi An (Vinh City) was turned into a drying yard by local people.

According to the registration of enterprises, currently in Nghe An there are 88 buses operating for public passenger transport (in reality, the number of buses operating is lower) with the following routes: No. 1, Vinh - Cua Hoi - Cua Lo; Route No. 2, Vinh - Quan Banh - Cua Lo (these 2 routes are operated by Ngoc Anh Trading and Tourism Service Joint Stock Company); Route No. 3, Vinh - Thanh Chuong - Do Luong; Route No. 4, Vinh - Dien Chau - Hoang Mai; Route No. 5, Vinh - Dien Chau - Yen Thanh (these 3 routes are operated by Dong Bac Trading and Construction Corporation in Nghe An); Route No. 6, Vinh - Ha Tinh City (operated by Dong Bac Trading and Construction Corporation in Nghe An and Ha Tinh Automobile Transport Joint Stock Company). Although there are only a few bus routes, management is facing many difficulties and inadequacies.

According to regulations, when opening or stopping bus routes, or adding or replacing vehicles, or adjusting the operating route of vehicles, it is necessary to report and get approval from the Department of Transport, but in reality, businesses have not strictly complied with this regulation. The Dong Bac Trading and Construction Corporation in Nghe An has the largest number of operators, with 68 buses and a total of 280 registered stops on the routes. However, after a long period of operation, the vehicles became worn out and damaged, and the business had to temporarily stop operating some vehicles for repairs, but did not report to the authorities. When the authorities discovered a shortage of vehicles compared to the registered operations, the business showed no interest and indifferently explained that "some vehicles are being repaired".

Also a passenger in Yen Thanh said: “At the same pick-up point in Yen Thanh, sometimes you have to wait 30 minutes for a bus to arrive, but sometimes you have to wait nearly an hour for a bus to arrive. Due to the irregular pick-up and drop-off times, recently there have been some “passenger” buses painted in colors very similar to buses that also stop to pick up and drop off passengers at bus stops, causing confusion for people.”

It is known that the Department of Transport has sent a document to businesses requesting: Ensure buses pick up and drop off passengers on time, in accordance with regulations, and not reduce the frequency of buses. Many times reminding bus passenger transport businesses to register exclusive rights to protect paint colors, but they have not strictly complied. Recently, there has been a situation where illegal vehicles "imitate" the paint colors of buses, causing confusion and frustration for passengers. And the authorities have not been able to handle it.

Mr. Mai Xuan Viet - Officer of the Department of Vehicle and Driver Management - Department of Transport - said: "Faced with that reality, the Transport sector has coordinated with functional forces to strengthen inspections, requiring businesses to urgently carry out maintenance, repair, supplement or replace damaged and degraded vehicles to put them into operation, meet passenger service requirements and comply with registration commitments. Specifically, by the end of September 2013, the Dong Bac Trading and Construction Corporation in Nghe An must complete the investment, purchase 6 new vehicles, replace damaged vehicles and require 100% of operating buses to have air conditioning, repair seats, doors, clean vehicles, and strictly implement the registration of additional vehicles and adjust the frequency of vehicles. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen driver education, service staff on vehicles need to have a gentle and polite attitude towards passengers..."

After nearly 4 years of operation, the bus passenger transport system has transported more than 12 million passengers, making a significant contribution to serving the travel needs of the people, ensuring traffic order and safety, and stabilizing passenger transport fares in the area. However, this type of service has caused many problems, so authorities at all levels and functional sectors need to actively intervene to promptly resolve them, restore order in bus passenger transport, and create an environment to attract investment and healthy competition in this field.

Hoang Vinh