Vietnam, Japan firms join hands to develop shuttle bus system
Vietnam, Japan firms join hands to develop shuttle bus system
A Japanese corporation is collaborating with a Vietnamese firm in the southern province of Binh Duong to develop a system of shuttle buses that also serve nearby provinces, newswire Vietnamplus reported Tuesday.
During a working session with local authorities in Binh Duong on Tuesday, President of Tokyu Koshimura Toshiaki said his group is promoting a public transportation project which encourages more residents to take shuttle buses.
It is jointly carried out by Tokyu Group and Becamex IDC Corp, a Vietnamese firm based in Binh Duong.
All the environment-friendly vehicles will apply Japan’s latest technology and use compressed natural gas that is not harmful to the environment.
The project is expected to create a bus route that links Binh Duong’s Integrated Administration Center (Binh Duong New City), an urban-industry-service complex, to Suoi Tien Amusement Park in Ho Chi Minh City.
The total investment in this project, which is waiting for government approval, is estimated to top VND3,500 billion (US$162 million).
The first Japanese-style, 22.1 kilometer bus route called “Kaze Shuttle” was inaugurated in late 2014 and is now operated by Becamex Tokyu Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Tokyu and Becamex, connecting Thu Dau Mot City and Binh Duong New City.
It charges VND5,000 ($0.23) per ticket for students and VND10,000 ($0.46) for other passengers.
Koshimura Toshiaki was also committed to carrying out the new project in a timely manner and assured the highest result.
Chairman of the Binh Duong People’s Committee Tran Van Nam appreciated the shuttle bus project invested by Japan, saying it will change public transport and raise residents’ awareness of the future of modern transport means.
Tokyu is one of Japan’s leading corporations in terms of urban and infrastructure development. The firm currently implements a series of real estate projects in Binh Duong New City with a total capital of $1.2 billion.
