The central city of Da Nang will apply intelligent transport solutions(ITS) to develop its public transport system, including promoting socialinvestment in the bus network.

Currently, thecity has six bus routes and 116 buses which are expected to increase to11 routes and 160 buses in 2015, as heard at a workshop which opened inthe city on July 8.

Da Nang became an official member of CityNet in 2005.

Established in 1987, CityNet is the largest association of urbanstakeholders committed to sustainable development in the Asia-PacificRegion.

As of 2013, CityNet had 130 members from over 20nations around the world, including Da Nang, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue andHo Chi Minh City.

Speaking at the workshop, Professor DoctorVu Thi Minh from the Association of Cities of Vietnam (ACVN) highlightedtransportation as the lifeline of urban economies.

Sustainable urban transport development is based on the three pillarsof economics, social affairs and the environment, she noted.

Motorbike transport and pavement culture are the two most outstandingfeatures in most Vietnamese cities, experts said, adding that amongmeans of transport, high-capacity public options are an effectivesolution for densely populated and centralised economies.

Major Vietnamese cities are looking to develop public transport, experts said.

The workshop is organised by the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) and the Da Nang Foreign Office and Department of Transport.-VNA