Nghe An: Ticket prices increased by 30%, passengers struggled to catch the bus

Hai An• DNUM_DAZABZCACD 20:35

(Baonghean.vn) - After the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao, the high demand for travel caused many bus companies in Nghe An to "sell out", not to mention that during this time, many bus companies also increased prices, causing difficulties for people.

Crowded with passengers waiting for the bus on National Highway 7B through Xuan Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: Hai An

Records in Yen Thanh district on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year (January 30) showed that along National Highway 7B, passengers gathered to wait for buses at intersections in Yen Thanh town, Hoa Thanh, Xuan Thanh, Lien Thanh communes... Mr. Tran Van Tuan in Bac Thanh commune said: After Tet, we had to buy expensive tickets to go to Hanoi, before Tet, it was 150,000 VND/ticket to go to Hanoi, nowincrease ticket price200,000 VND/ticket. Because there are so many customers, it is very difficult to book tickets. You have to wait outside on the street, and get on any bus that lets you get on.

Through the survey, most bus companies in Yen Thanh district have increased ticket prices, as before, the ticket price from Yen Thanh to Ho Chi Minh City on normal days was from 800,000 VND/ticket, now increased to 1.5 million VND/ticket. According to some bus companies: Due to the high price of gasoline and oil in recent times, not to mention the fact that when returning, the bus has to run without passengers, so we have to increase ticket prices during Tet.

Ms. Nguyen Tho in Lien Thanh commune (Yen Thanh), a worker in the South, added: Knowing that the ticket price is higher than usual, she still has to accept the price to get to work on time.

Passengers waiting for a bus in Yen Thanh district. Photo: Hai An

Yen Thanh district currently has over 75 sleeper buses running on Yen Thanh routes to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai... Since the 4th day of Lunar New Year, Yen Thanh district traffic police have inspected and handled 5 sleeper buses for violations: stopping and parking in the wrong place, carrying more people than the prescribed number...

At this time, in Do Luong district, there are many passengers from all over the countryside pouring out to the roads to catch buses to the northern provinces and the south. On route N5, Tru Son commune (Do Luong), we witnessed many people with luggage standing on the roadside "waving" for buses.

Ms. Tran Thi Dung in Tru Son commune (Do Luong) share: The bus from Do Luong town down here is full of passengers, so from morning until now we have "waved" for 3 sleeper buses but none of them stopped because they were full, so we are tired of waiting for the next bus.

Passengers jostle to catch a bus on route N5 through Tru Son commune (Do Luong). Photo: Ngoc Phuong.

Researching some bus companies in Do Luong district shows that after Tet, most of them have increased their ticket prices. Asking the price of a sleeper bus company in Thinh Son commune, Do Luong district to the southern provinces, the current price is 1.6 million VND/ticket, while on normal days it is only 800,000 VND/ticket. Some other bus companies in Do Luong town, the ticket price to Hanoi and the northern provinces all increased by 50,000 VND.

Although ticket prices are higher than usual at this time, according to surveys in Yen Thanh, Do Luong, Dien Chau, and Quynh Luu districts, there are still "sold out" tickets and passenger buses cannot meet the travel needs of customers. Therefore, many customers who cannot buy tickets have to wait another 2-3 days to buy tickets.

Crowded people waiting for buses in Do Luong district. Photo: Ngoc Phuong.

A representative of the Transport Management Department (Department of Transport) said: The Department of Transport has established a working group to directly inspect bus stations regarding the implementation of ticket price posting, vehicle numbers, and hotlines.

During the Lunar New Year, some bus companies in Nghe An increased ticket prices by 20-30%, which were approved by the competent authority to increase within the permitted level. However, some bus companies did not increase ticket prices during the New Year, such as Van Minh, Thach Thanh, Sao Nghe, An Phu Quy...

During the inspection, the relevant industry discovered that the bus company had increased the price beyond the permitted level and will handle it according to regulations.