Passenger buses are competing with city buses!
(Baonghean)This morning, June 23, 2009, dozens of passenger buses on the Vinh - Thanh Chuong (Nghe An) route simultaneously stopped operating after several days of low passenger numbers. The reason is the appearance of bus route number 3 operated by Dong Bac Trading and Construction Company (Thanh Hoa).
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Bus owners operating the Vinh - Thanh Chuong route gathered in front of the Nghe An Department of Transportation this morning, expressing their frustration and anxiety. A few days ago, when bus route number 3, running from Vinh to Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong (and vice versa), operated by Dong Bac Trading and Construction Company (based in Thanh Hoa city), began operating with average fares ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 VND, passengers flocked to the buses. With no passengers, 47 buses at the Cho Dung and Cho Vinh bus stations are now idle, despite paying 130,000 VND in station fees every day.
Mr. Nguyen Van Ha (owner of vehicle 37N-0963), who has been running this route for over 30 years and is familiar with the customers and the local area, is also helpless because "the bus is too convenient; it can stop and park freely without police scrutiny, and it can even go into the city center to pick up passengers." Many vehicle owners are frustrated because the fare for this route, sold by the government at the bus station, is 21,000 VND, while the bus fare is only 5,000-15,000 VND. Out of desperation, many vehicle owners have accepted losses and lowered the fare to 15,000 VND for the past two days, but still no one is using the service. Many vehicles only get 2-3 passengers per trip, mostly acquaintances.
Bus route number 3, operated by the Dong Bac Trading and Construction Company, was approved by the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to operate from June 17, 2009, after winning the bid. Due to lower fares than passenger buses, new buses with air conditioning, and a continuous service of 15-25 minutes per trip, it quickly attracted passengers, especially students and war veterans (who received discounted fares).
The launch of the bus service is welcome news for the transportation industry, as it offers a convenient option for passengers and helps eliminate illegal and substandard buses. However, due to a lack of or delayed information, 47 bus owners operating on the Vinh - Thanh Chuong route were caught off guard when the bus service began operating.
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Deputy Director Nguyen Hong Ky explained: Since March, the Nghe An Department of Transport has sent notices to transport businesses and cooperatives inviting bids for this bus route, but no businesses participated. Dong Bac Company met the requirements best and was therefore allowed to operate. The simultaneous operation of buses and passenger vehicles is completely normal, consistent with the rules of competition and the current market economy. The Nghe An Department of Transport will continue to open bidding for other routes, and individuals, units, and cooperatives will all have equal opportunities to participate.
It is regrettable that the 47 passenger buses operating on the aforementioned route are all managed by passenger transport companies and cooperatives such as the Central Vietnam Investment and Development Company, Binh Minh Cooperative, etc., but no representatives from these companies and cooperatives were present this morning.
My Ha - Khanh Ly
