Learning in Bangkok

Waterway Management of HCM City has proposed pilot form of bus boat, similar to types of passenger transport by ship that Bangkok capital is applied. According to Le Hoang Minh - Director of Waterway Management - Chao Phraya is the river through Bangkok City toward the north – south in which cut across central of Bangkok 21 km in length exploited by Thailand to transport public passenger and tourism very effectively, contributing to solving traffic jam on the road. The fleet currently of Bangkok consists of 83 units with capacity from 40 to 120 people, operating continuously from 06:00am-07:30pm every day. The average ticket price from 9 to 32 baht/person/way (approximately VND 5,000 to VND 18,000/person/way), depending on the distance. Ship is arranged 02 ways up and down very convenient for passengers in the rear side and only takes a minute to stop at each station. This service may transport about 40,000 passengers/day, equivalent to 11 million of passengers/year.

Vietnam has great potential for transportation by waterway which should be exploited for public transportation – photo: D.Đ.Mi

For the convenience of passengers, the length of 21 km of route is arranged 38 stations. Also, there are four types of ships are distinguished by four types of flags of different colors: yellow flag vessels only stop 9/38 stations, blue flag vessels stop 11/38 stations, orange flag vessels stop 19/38 stations and white flag vessels stop all stations. The different types of ships intended to satisfy all groups of passengers wishing to travel near or far, quick or slow. In addition, in Bangkok, many branches of rivers and canals toward east - west are also growing strongly this type of transport.

Although HCM City and Bangkok are different from specific characteristics and geographical areas, Waterway Management considers that there still have many similarities to develop the type of public passenger transport by waterway. Mr. Minh has proposed immediate investment for three transportation routes: route Khanh Hoi Bridge (District 1) - Sai Gon river - Thanh Da channel - Saigon River - Vam Thuat River (An Loc bridge, District 12) 14km in length; route Khanh Hoi bridge (District 1) - Saigon River - Te channel – Doi canal 15km in length; route Khanh Hoi bridge- Ben Nghe - Tau Hu channel 12.5 km in length. According to Mr. Minh, the waterway bus routes will save up to 40% of the time compared to travel by road and not traffic jam, thus ensuring the right time for passengers. "For example, the current to go from Bach Dang Wharf (District 1) to An Loc Bridge (District 12) during rush hours, it takes more than two hours, but if going by waterway only taking 25 minutes. Or from Dist. 1 to Thanh Da going by road might take one hour but if "to row" by waterway, it takes only 10 minutes "- Mr. Minh evidenced.

Need to be careful

 

Bus boat on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok (Thailand) - Photo: P. Thanh

Utilizing the available network of rivers and canals in HCMCity to strengthen transport policy is absolutely right. However, in fact, still be careful of the type of bus boat that HCM City have been applied and failed.

Specifically, from 1995 - 1996, the City has organized bus route on the Saigon River, departing from Bach Dang Wharf (District 1) to Thanh Da (Binh Thanh District) to Ben Duoc (Cu Chi) but after only a short time to have to default because of without passengers. Mr. Phan Hoang Tri - Deputy Director of Waterway said that the reason of the pilot failed which is due at the time of the units involved have not yet prepared, just "the portable boat to run if like”. Therefore, this pilot, if approved by the Department of Transportation & Traffic, Waterway Management will survey to establish detailed plans before applying investment policy of City, to ensure the competence of success.

According to Mr. Tri, experience in Thailand showed that to develop the system of bus boat needs to have the system of piers, roads connecting with the road traffic system. In the planning report, waterway network and ports in city area the period from now to 2020 have also studied this problem. Initially, the ticket fare calculated for this form of transport is rather high, with a carrying capacity 60 people per boat, the ticket fare from VND 5,000 to VND 19,000 depending on the distance; it can be difficult to attract passengers. Therefore, Waterway Management is proposing City must have policies to support investor reasonably in early stage to pull off a fare.

Mr. Tran The Ky-Deputy Director of Department of Transportation & Traffic of City defined, this form of transport is feasible, especially the City is replenishing some routes of canals Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe (passing districts such as Binh Thanh, 1, 3, Phu Nhuan, Tan Binh), Tau Hu - Ben Nghe (passing districts such as 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11) ... However, the implementation is not easy, due to need plenty of funds to invest stations, roads connecting the river ... On the other hand, there are a series of obstacles such as the 27/87 routes that clearance of bridges not meet standards as regulations, situation erosion of river braches, the difference of tides ... In addition, the City has no experience developing transportation by waterway (the organization routes, model, vehicle, the system of picking up/ dropping passengers on the river) and people have not had the habit of using means of transport by waterway.

 

Forgotten waterway potential The City has 87 rivers and the system of tangled canals, which is favorable to develop waterway transport including 574 km of river managed by the city, 252 km of major rivers managed by Central, in addition, nearly 147 km of coastline. However, for years the waterway routes has not been utilized well in development of transport. Development planning of waterway and ports in Ho Chi Minh City to year of 2020 has been approved that mentioned the building plenty of stations for canoes and boats in the form of bus stops to implement the routes cano-bus and boat-bus. The location is planning to build boat-bus stop, cano-bus is the axis Tau Hu channel, Te channel, Doi channel and along the Saigon River. In addition, network formation of waterway transport links areas of the city and the city with nearby provinces. For example, from HCM City to provinces of Mekong Delta may follow the route Te channel – Doi canal – Ong Lon canal to Can Giuoc river – Tien river – Hau river. To connect with the south eastern provinces could follow routes Dong Nai river, Sai Gon river, Vam Co Dong river ... Prof. Dr. Le Manh Hung - Director of Institute of Southern Irrigation Science: Feasible but not easy I think the concern to develop waterway transportation in HCM City in terms of road transportation infrastructure overloaded is essential. Also, the development of transport on rivers and canals will open the tourism potential of the river to enjoy the view of Saigon from new vision. However, it is not easy for us because we need huge funds to invest in perfecting the system of yards, stations, road networks connected to the traffic ... and not merely the means of vessels. On the other hand, Saigon peple do not have the habit of using public transport as well as travel by waterway will also be an obstacle so difficult to overcome. Habits "to pick up at place," psychological problems of walking ... is the invisible barrier, should be tried to change. Moreover, in parallel with the development of waterway transport should have the detailed calculations in order to protect the environment, prevent pollution of rivers, if not we lost the others importance. Master Ho Long Phi – Technology University of Ho Chi Minh City: Right direction If taking advantages of system of the city's waterways to split the road traffic load is too good. The barrier about channels, tides would not be a huge problem if we study carefully and select to exploit the routes appropriately. Of course, not rivers that can also apply this form of transportation, but I saw immediate along the Saigon River and some channels linking districts which are replenishing would be feasible to hold bus boat. The important issue is to invest in infrastructure conveniently and to be patient to make habit of traffic by waterway for people.

 

Phương Thanh

Thanh Nien Newspaper