First public bus lines resume operations in HCMC

Bus lines 77, 90, 127 and 128 will operate with around 60-90 rides a day, Le Hoan, deputy director of the Public Transport Management Center under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, said Monday.

Besides the four lines, the center will plan for other bus lines to resume operations too, depending on the coronavirus situation.

Along with Districts 7 and Cu Chi, Can Gio is among the earliest areas in HCMC to put the coronavirus under control. The district has already relaxed certain coronavirus control measures and resumed certain business and tourism activities since Sept. 16.

The resumption of bus services would help meet local travel demand, said Truong Tien Trien, deputy chairman of the Can Gio District People's Committee. The plan is to gradually let buses out onto the road this month, with varying frequencies and time frames based on the coronavirus situation. Taxis and ride-hailing services will also be resumed, albeit with limited capacity, according to Trien.

HCMC currently operates 128 public bus lines. Since June 20, they have been suspended to curb coronavirus infections in the metropolis.