Many bus, taxi firms ignore new price-control regulations

Many bus and taxis drivers have ignored a ruling requiring them to paste their prices, said deputy director of the city’s Transport Department Nguyen Hoang Linh.

Linh said the circular that passed last month was drafted to protect customers’ rights and manage transportation networks.

“Accordingly, buses operating on fixed routes have been asked to list their ticket prices on the inside and outside of their vehicles and at ticket-selling stalls,” said Linh.

Nguyen Minh Hue, a passenger who was waiting for a bus to northern Ninh Binh Province at Giap Bat Bus Station, said it took her nearly 30 minutes to find a bus that had prices on the outside of its vehicle.

“Buses and taxis often take advantage of travellers during holidays like Tet (Lunar New Year) to increase their profits, which upsets customers,” said Hue.

Transport Association’s vice chairman Nguyen Khanh Toan said the ruling aimed to add transparency to the city’s transportation networks.

Linh said the circular failed to stipulate what punishment would be levied on companies that did not follow the ruling or what agencies would enforce the law.

According to the circular, the department would review and inspect transportation companies’ vehicles, while encouraging them to implement the regulation.

“We would apply administrative punishment violations that are congruent with traffic regulations stipulated in Decree No 34 until the Ministry of Transport provided a specific ruling,” he said.

Giap Bat Bus Station’s director Nguyen Tat Thanh said they informed transportation businesses and drivers about the regulation last month.

“However, only a modest number of firms and drivers follow the regulation,” Thanh said, adding that they carried two inspections and fined 10 drivers for violating the circular.

Thanh said if drivers were caught violating the rule, then they would be forbidden to use the station’s facilities.

Taxi driver Do Xuan Duc said the ban was not strict enough because drivers were able to pick up passengers at hospitals, parks, supermarkets and along the city’s roads.

Thanh said the Transportation Ministry should create punishments so the regulation could be enforced. — VNS