19 September
Scania buses will be commissioned into the Yangon circular service from 23 September, with one round trip set to cost K1,000, said U Hla Aung, the Joint Secretary of the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA).
He announced the new service at a press conference held yesterday at the YRTA head office, located at No65, Manhaung Ward, Laydaunykan Road, Tamway Township.
“The service will run with a fleet of 20 Scania buses from the Aungmingala Highway Bus Terminal. There will be two routes for the circular services. We are also observing the route to fulfill the public’s needs. We will run the service with full capacity using 39 buses in October,” said U Hla Aung.
“The circular route will run from Aungmingala to Thanthumar-Botahtaung-Kyimyindine and end at the Aungmingala terminal. The bus fare is pegged at K500 for a single trip from Aungmingala to ThakhinMya Park, and so, the return trip will also cost the same. The fare for a round trip has been fixed at K1,000,” said U Hla Aung.
The City Transit Company had inspected the routes in August. They are also trying to install a bus-stop announcement system, which would be helpful for the commuters, on the Scania buses. The company has also installed telematics and GPS to help the buses provide smooth transportation to the public. The buses are also wheel-chair accessible.
The City Transit Company had planned to launch Scania buses on the Yangon circular service last month. However, the project took time as the company had to construct a terminal.
The YRTA is supervising the Yangon Bus Service in the region. As commuters in the commercial hub of Yangon depend on bus services, the YRTA is endeavoring to offer better services to the public than the All Private Bus Lines Control Committee.
The YBS was launched on 16 January, 2017, during the incumbent government’s term. At present, over 100 bus lines are operating 4,500 buses on about 130 routes, along with the Airport Shuttle. The number of daily commuters has been estimated at 1.8 million.
The YRTA was formed to improve the transport facilities in Yangon for the convenience of the public. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein was appointed as the Patron of the transport authority, while Daw Nilar Kyaw, the Yangon Region Minister for Electricity, Industry, and Transportation, was made the Chairwoman.
In April this year, the number of members was increased to 22 from 16, with the YRTA appointing the Security and Border Affairs Minister as Vice Chairwoman 1 and the Yangon Mayor as Vice Chairwoman 2, besides officials from related departments and organizations.
By Nyein Nyein(Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
