HCMC plans to resume all public bus routes from Nov. 15

Criteria to resume bus routes would depend on the coronavirus situation in the city and the importance of each route, among other factors, the management center stated.

Sixteen important bus routes, connecting major transit points like coach and bus stations and passing through industrial parks and wholesale markets, should start operate by Nov. 1 at 40 percent their usual number of rides, the center proposed. Out of these 16 bus routes, eight have already resumed operations since Oct. 25.

Starting Nov. 8, 29 other bus routes, which lead to central areas, roundabouts and other routes where no other buses can access, would resume operations at 50 percent their usual number of rides.

Starting Nov. 15, all 41 other subsidized bus routes would resume operations. By this phase, bus frequencies might be adjusted in accordance with demand at the time and the performance of other bus routes, and may be increased to 70-80 percent their usual number of rides.

For non-subsidized bus routes within the city, businesses operating them could outline timeframes to resume services. Non-subsidized bus routes would need cooperation between local authorities to resume operations.

Previously on Oct. 5, four bus routes in Can Gio District became the first to resume operations as Ho Chi Minh City began to enter the "new normal", operating at up to 90 rides a day.

The southern metropolis currently has 126 bus routes, 90 subsidized. Buses and other forms of public transport were suspended due to impacts of Covid-19 back in June.