Hanoi to launch first CNG-fuelled bus routes

The proposed routes are from My Dinh Bus Station to Son Tay Bus Station, Yen Nghia Bus Station to Dang Xa Urban Area and the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases to Times City. The three routes will be managed by Bao Yen Tourism, Construction and Services Co. Ltd.

Buses, which have a capacity of carrying 50 passengers, will run every 15-20 minutes with fares of VND9,000 (38 US cents) on the first and second routes and VND8,000 (0.34 US cents) on the third one. 

According to the Hanoi Public Transport Management and Operation Centre, CNG has many advantages. It does not adversely affect human health or the environment and compared with other fuels CNG is cheaper so it can help reduce production costs.

Experts say the price for 1 tonne of CNG is about US$318, nearly half the price of gasoline and 42% of the price of diesel. They calculated that buses running on CNG would save US$8,308 in fuel compared to diesel each year.

The buses were supposed to go into operation on July 1 but there were delays due to the development of the gas pipelines and CNG filling stations, the centre said.

There is currently only one CNG filling station in Hanoi at Bao Yen’s headquarters in Dong Anh district.