Published:  15:05 Wednesday - November 30, 2016

Deputy Director of Hanoi's Transport Department Ha Huy Quang said that the city will put its first bus rapid transit route into operation on December 15 this year.

Hanoi will put its first bus rapid transit route into operation in mid-December.

The bus runs on the 14-km route distance from Kim Ma Street to Yen Nghia station in the outlying district of Ha Dong, with a journey time of 40-45 minutes.

The 90-passenger capacity buses run on the route which has 21 bus stops.

Started in early 2013, the Kim Ma-Yen Nghia bus rapid transit route was initially scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2015. However, due to the slow pace of preparations, the opening of the route was delayed until next month.

The Hanoi Transport Department will consider restricting taxi and cars on the route and installing priority traffic lights for the bus.

This is part of Hanoi's project to develop a network of eight bus rapid transit routes by 2030. The project has a total investment of USD55 million with the majority sourced from the World Bank.

Hanoi Transport and Services Corporation set up a unit which specializes in operating this first bus rapid transit route.