By Anh Quan - The Saigon Times Daily

Passengers disembark from a hydrofoil at Bach Dang Wharf. The city has approved Thuong Nhat Company to launch waterway commuter services on a trial basis - Photo: Kinh Luan

HCMC – The HCMC government on Tuesday approved a proposal to launch two waterway commuter routes linking Bach Dang Wharf with the outskirts to ease road traffic congestion in the city.

Under the proposal submitted by Thuong Nhat Co. Ltd., the company will launch a route linking the city center with the outlying district of Thu Duc, and another branching out to District 8, both routes stretching 11km each.

The first route will start from Bach Dang Wharf and end in Linh Dong Wharf in Thu Duc, while the other one, also starting at Bach Dang Wharf, will transport commuters via Ben Nghe and Tau Hu canals before ending at Lo Gom Bridge. Both routes will only be launched on a trial basis, said an official from the city government’s Administration Office.

In its study sent to the city’s Department of Transport, Thuong Nhat Company said the two routes have a medium length, but the waterway transport will cut the traveling time by two-thirds compared to bus service.

It will take only half an hour for a commuter boat to cover the whole route, inclusive of the time for passengers to get on board and to disembark, the company said in its study.

If the operation of these two routes proves efficient, the company will launch other routes in the future.

To launch the two routes, the company will have to build four stations with supporting facilities like waiting lounges and parking lots, plus eight stopovers along the two routes. The company expects to operate eight boats, each capable of carrying 80 passengers at a time, or some 10,000 passengers a day.

The total capital required for the project is estimated at VND58 billion, or some US$3 million, with VND46 billion covered by the company itself and VND12 billion from the State coffer.

The city government in its approval also asked the Department of Transport to work with the company to prepare a detailed plan including the development scheme and boat fares for submission to authorities.

The city has earlier launched on a trial basis a waterway commuter service linking Bach Dang Wharf, Thanh Da Peninsula and Ben Duoc in Cu Chi District, but the service was later shelved due to the lack of commercial viability.

Nguon: http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/business/other/11848/