Tightening on fixed passenger buses may increase disguised contract vehicles

Talking to Lao Dong about this issue, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said that regarding the amendment and supplementation of Decree 10/2020/ND-CP, the Association has sent written comments.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, the current fixed bus routes are running in a disciplined manner. Therefore, state agencies should not manage them too tightly.

"Regulating too many complicated procedures for fixed passenger buses can make it difficult for bus operators to manage, making it difficult to compete with contracted, free-roaming buses," Mr. Quyen said.

Furthermore, if the management of fixed passenger buses is too strict, this type of vehicle may shrink. It is not excluded that fixed passenger buses will switch to "disguised" contract vehicles. At that time, it will be very difficult to develop the desired type of vehicle.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association recommends that the overly strict management of fixed passenger cars by the Department of Roads and the Ministry of Transport should be gradually reduced. Instead, the State agencies should create conditions for bus companies to develop autonomously. The adjustment of bus frequency and fares should be left to the bus companies and bus stations to proactively base on market rules, close to actual developments.

Regarding the amendment and supplementation of Decree No. 10/2020/ND-CP, the Ministry of Transport is proposing to amend Point a, Clause 3, Article 4, which regulates the construction, adjustment, supplementation and updating of the list of route networks on the Ministry's fixed passenger transport management software.

Accordingly, the Department of Transport will develop, adjust and supplement the list of intra-provincial fixed route networks; coordinate with the Department of Transport at the other end of the route to develop, adjust and supplement the list of inter-provincial fixed route networks; update the list of route networks on the fixed route management software of the Ministry of Transport.

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