The bus owners have applied to Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) for issuing the car import permit slips for their old buses manufactured from 1999 to 2003. A total of 202 buses are now granted the car import permit slips, said U Hla Aung, the joint secretary of YRTA.
“This is part of the Yangon regional government project that brings benefits to the bus line owners, who are running their buses in YBS. The Union Government will only accept buses of over 20 years of age. Only the Yangon Region has granted the import permit slip in exchange for the old buses. After we have negotiated, we have had to go step by step. First, the owners have to submit the applications to the bus lines which forwarded the applications to YRTA. After scrutinizing, YRTA submitted the applications to Yangon regional government. After the Yangon Region government decided at the cabinet meeting, they negotiated with the Union department concerned. Now, 202 buses are granted the car import permit slips,” he added. YRTA scrutinized a total of 205 applications which were submitted to issue the car import permit slips. Then, YRTA forwarded the application forms to Yangon regional government.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications granted the import slips in exchange for YBS buses manufactured between 1999 and 2003. As the old buses are not in good condition and not suitable for the city’s features, Yangon regional government has reported this matter to the Ministry.
The information has been already sent to the bus lines. At present, there are more than 700 YBS buses manufactured between 1999 and 2003. Those who are granted the car import slips in exchange for buses need to give back CNG from their buses. Although the Union government has allowed deregistering the old vehicles since 2011, there remain the old model vehicles. The government has been issuing the bus import slips for buses. Truck import slips for trucks and home use car import slips for home use cars, most of which are more than 20 years old. —Nyein Nyein
(Translated by Hay Mar)
