Dr Maung Aung, chairperson of the Yangon Bus Line Public Company, said: “Currently, we cannot focus on huge profits. For the sustainable development of the BRT system, we have to run it as a public company. We worry that it would collapse in a short period of time, like the road transport department, if the BRT system were to be operated by the government.”
“The government contributed Ks 10 billion—40 per cent of the budget—and the private sector put up the remaining Ks 15 billion. The launch of the BRT system is the first step to reforming Yangon’s bus system. As of last week, more than 700 people have purchased 1.8 billion shares at a price of Ks 100,000 per share. The company will sell its shares until the end of this month,” he added.
Currently, the BRT system uses Chinese King Long buses and South Korean Hyundai buses. The company has placed orders for Daewoo buses from South Korea, Higer buses from China and Scanier buses from Sweden to be added to the BRT fleet.
“We have opened the No1 bus route. Soon, the No 2 route will follow. As a first step, the buses will undergo test runs from 6:30am to 9:30pm. All buses are equipped with CCTV. Regular passenger buses will have to give way to the BRT buses. The Yangon Bus Line Public Company has already coordinated with the supervisory committees of other bus companies and with the Yangon City Development Committee on road-sharing arrangements.
Than Htwe, a passenger, said: “We have waited a long time for the opening of the BRT system. I still don’t know where I can buy BRT ticket.”
The BRT’s No 1 route has 36 bus stops along Pyay Road and Kabar Aye Pagoda Road in Yangon.
Source: Eleven Media
