Streams of passengers to Mien Dong Coach Station caused traffic congrestion in streets namely Dien Bien Phu, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Dinh Bo Linh Nguyen Xi and Highway 13 from 4:30 p.m.
Passengers highly surged from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the station. Many must wait for an hour to get aboard.
Businesses had supplemented vehicles in near routes to Binh Phuoc, Dak Nong, Phu Yen provinces and Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang and Vung Tau cities but supply was still short of demand according to Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper’s record at 6:20 p.m.
Deputy director of the station Nguyen Hoang Huy said that most residents wanted to travel in high quality coaches of known brand names causing early out of ticket situtation of some businesses.
Mr. Huy said that the peak travel time would be on December 30 when the station expected to receive 28,000 passengers. The station has coordinated with transport firms to mobilize an extra of 100 vehicles to meet demand.
Similarly, passengers flocked to Mien Tay Coach Station on Friday, long queued up in front of ticket counters to Can Tho, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Dong Thap and An Giang provinces.
Many streets surrounding Mien Dong Coach Station have regularly been congested (Photo: SGGP)
Many streets surrounding Mien Dong Coach Station have regularly been congested (Photo: SGGP)
Surging passengers made the station’s parking lots full, forcing latecomers to seek other outside places to park their vehicles at 7:20 p.m.
Traffic jam occured in Kinh Duong Vuong and National Highway 1A. Since 7p.m., travel was very difficult in the highway stretch from Binh Dien Bridge, Binh Chanh district to Ben Luc district, Long An province.
A representative of Mien Tay Coach Station said that the number of passengers increased 60-70 percent over normal, possibly reaching 50,000 a day and concentrating in short routes to Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. The station has supplemented 20 buses to serve passengers.
HCMC Public Passenger Transport Management Center said that it would increase 1,205 bus trips in 20 routes to meet travel demand in three new year holidays and ease pressure for interprovincial bus stations.
