24  June 

Although Myeik passenger bus lines suspended to control spreading of coronavirus disease, Taninthayi Region is resuming their operation starting from 5 June on Myeik-Yangon route from Myeik highway terminal, there are a few passengers on board the buses, according to Myeik Township Private Transport Supervision Committee.

“The travellers need to bring the ward administrator’s recommendation letter and health certificates along with them. And the passengers need to use two-seat space. So, the bus line tickets are selling for K33,500, an increase of K10,000 for Myeik-Yangon route. The regional authorities have ordered the bus lines to carry only 50 per cent of passengers,” said an official from Myeik Township Private Transport Supervision Committee.

During the coronavirus prevention period, the bus drivers and conductors followed the instructions of the authorities, carrying only half of accommodation capacity, keeping the social distancing rule and following all other instructions given by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

“Before pandemic, nearly 500 travellers from across the country reached Myeik highway terminal. Since the resumption of the highway buses beginning from 5 June, only 100 passengers or so reached the highway terminal. The number of passengers declined to nearly 1,600 for 10 days of June, from 9,000 in February,” the committee official said.

“The number of passengers declined because of COVID-19 and rising of the bus fares. We have no job and we are difficult to travel,” said a traveller from Yangon.

With Myeik passenger bus lines resuming under Taninthayi region government rules, passenger bus lines cannot carry more than the prescribed number in this period, and if they fail to abide by this rule, the passengers can report to Taninthayi Region government. At present, a total of 65 bus lines are operating in the Myeik terminal with 40 bus lines operating in the region while 25 bus lines operating outside of the region. 

Myint Oo (Myeik)  (Translated by Hay Mar)